The Literary Tape

Just a normal roll of Scotch tape right? Wrong. This is double sided tape – the special stuff that works like magic when used correctly. On flat surfaces, it glues items together so well that it basically morphs them into one coherent object. Yet, if even one surface is slightly uneven, it becomes completely useless. 

What does this have to do with a blog post for AP English? Well, words function in an almost identical way. Double sided tape looks just like normal tape; similarly, sentences can be masked with layers of sarcasm or euphemisms or innuendos that create meanings other than what is literally said. For example, the phrase "Thanks a lot" could be a genuine comment or a sarcastic insult. In other words, sentences that look the same on paper could serve vastly different purposes, like double sided tape, which is two times as versatile as single sided tape yet looks identical to its inferior counterpart.

Lastly, we reach the tape's primary purpose: to stick items together. Words have the power to unite people. Powerful speeches, presentations, and essays can influence the minds of millions, and through words, knowledge can be passed for generations to come. Now that sounds heartwarming and all, but words can also be harmful – they are double-sided. They "let us say the things we want to say and also things we would be better off not having said." They can cause destruction through calculated ambiguity. Ambiguity in applying tape can result in a broken picture frame or a burst pipe. Double-sided tape used incorrectly on a rough surface can cause a divide between objects rather than a union. Words used incorrectly can be offensive and split relationships. 

And then, we reach the Flex TapeⓇ of all words. The strongest words that can unite people (maybe two people) forever. But those words are for you to decide. Let me know in the comments below!