Life and Work of Raymond Carver

The poem "Your Dog Dies," explains Carver's relation with poetry: "while you're writing you hear a woman scream your name, your first name, both syllables, and your heart stops. After a minute, you continue writing." ("Your Dog Dies," Page 1) Carver's work centers around daily events and common occurrences in the lives of his characters. As an optimist, he believes in the ability of people to change and adapt to the ones with different beliefs. Using his masterful skills, he leaves stories' interpretation to readers.
             Simple, ordinary language is the main part of Carver's work. Single words and punctuation, the most powerful tools he uses, completely change reader's perception of the story or poem, it make them connect with characters, and allow them to find deeper meanings in his work. The word "There" in the poem "No Need," part of the symphony and melody made by punctuation, marks a division between saying goodbye and letting go. The character, in this case Carver himself, is ready to die, and wants his wife to move on. He also uses single, repeated words to change the direction of his stories, like in the poem "Your Dog Dies." The words, "Deep, deep," separate the poem about the dog's death and the poem about writing a poem. Another important part of Carver's work, using the disappearance of light and drink, accompanies changes in characters' thoughts and behavior. Characters' view of love in, "What Do We Talk About When We Talk About Love," changes as the light is, "draining out of the room, going back through the window where it had come from," ("What Do We Talk About When We Talk About Love," Page 9) and they become more drunk. Their alcohol consumption increases at an even faster rate, as their discussion becomes deeper and more complex. Carver shows the readers the difference in the way characters act sober from the way they act intoxicated. On the other side, tone and mechanical change, accomplished with one question: "Are you a religious man?" in the poem, "What the Doctor Said," draw the readers into the poem.