So what is the ladder of abstraction anyways? Of the many tools for writing, I think a clear understanding of how to go up and down this ladder should be at the top of any writer’s journey, especially when retelling a story.
Roy Clark, senior scholar at the Poynter Online Institute, discusses how to use concrete and abstract details in writing. He writes, “show and tell. Move up and down the ladder of abstraction. At the bottom are bloody knives and rosary beads, wedding rings and baseball cards. At the top are “meaning” words like ‘freedom’ and ‘literacy.’ Beware of the middle, where bureaucracy and public policy live. There teachers are referred to as “instructional units.” (Clark “Beware the ladder’s middle rungs”, pointer.org) A good story not only holds large truths and concepts but also is magnified by the minute details. The color of the mulch matters, the refreshing sunshine brings warmth to the page, and the drooling dog brings texture to the surface.
Liam O’Flaherty’s short story, The Sniper, contains concrete details as well as abstract concepts. By the end of the story you are overwhelmed with gut wrenching images and dwelling on lofty notable truths of human nature.
