Menahem-Mendl

Style and Technique

The book «Menahem-Mendl» by Sholem Aleichem is written in the epistolary genre, which gives it a unique structure and style. The primary form of narration is letters that Menahem-Mendl writes to his wife Sheyne-Sheyndl. This technique allows the author to delve deeper into the inner world of the main character, his thoughts, feelings, and experiences. The language of the work is rich with humor and irony, characteristic of Sholem Aleichem's writing. The author uses lively colloquial speech filled with idiomatic expressions and phrases, adding authenticity and color to the text. The narrative style is light and effortless, allowing the reader to easily immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the Jewish shtetl. Literary devices such as hyperbole and sarcasm are used to create comedic situations and highlight the absurdity of some life circumstances faced by Menahem-Mendl. The story's structure, based on alternating letters, allows for dynamic plot development and maintains the reader's interest.