
 If you were an author, journalist, and instructor, wouldn’t you know a few secrets regarding the written word that you would like to share? After decades of writing, learning, and studying about the written language, that is exactly what Donald Murray does. 

In his essay, “The Interior View: One Writer’s Philosophy of Composition”, Donald Murray introduces the “interior view” (Murray 25) of composition to his readers. This “interior view”, is his what he believes to be the true writing process and its meaning, which is the discovery of meaning in personal experience and life through the written language.  In the process of introducing this perspective and argument, he utilizes many different literary elements. The main element that Donald Murray uses in “The Interior View: One Writer’s Philosophy of Composition” is repetition, in order to illustrate his views on the writing process and composition as a whole. 

As Murray states throughout his essay, repetition is a key part of the writing process. There are many quotes from his text that could be used to represent the usage of repetition in the piece and his views on how it is necessary to the writing process. Near the end of the text he quotes, “He is engaged in a continual process of revision, refinement, definition, and clarification” (Murray 31). This quote is relevant because it clearly exemplifies his argument in the piece that repetition is a key piece of “the interior view”. In this quote, he not only tells you that you need to do something but he also tells how to do it. This message supports his argument by telling you four different ways that you can go about incorporating repetition in your writing. As the text proceeds, Murray continues to support his argument with quotes regarding repetition and its importance. While quotes are used frequently throughout the essay to support his argument, they are not the only way he utilizes repetition in his writing to further his message. Murray expresses usage of repetition in other ways such as his style and set-up of the essay.

The writing format for the piece clearly embodies Murray’s views regarding the vitality of repetition in writing. In the essay he repeats the following passage 8 times, “A writer is an individual who uses language to discover meaning in experience and communicate it.” (Murray 26). He not only repeats the passage but follows each part of it up with paragraphs of analysis and explanation. This is an example of how he not only talks of the importance of repetition but he incorporates it into his own writing. By using the element of repetition for this particular passage he can further elaborate on the intended meaning for the particular passage parts and also the essay as a whole. This method helps further his argument and make it more apparent for interpretation. While this is merely a few examples of his exceptional usage of literary elements, he continues to utilize repetition throughout the essay in other ways such as repeated language.

Murray incorporates repetition in his language usage throughout the piece. His word choice reflects his beliefs on the importance of repetition in composition. There are many repeated words and phrases such as “aloneness, language, and interior view” throughout the text. For example, Murray uses the word “language” 31 times in different parts of the essay. For each usage of the word, there are different contexts and meanings. He uses this reiterating on word choice to expand on his definition and meaning of the word. This expansion of word meaning helps advance his passage and clarify his argument. 

In his first few paragraphs Murray uses the word “language” in his definition of the writing process. He quotes, “A writer is an individual who uses language to discover meaning in experience and communicate it” (Murray 26). In that statement, he uses the word language as a way to “discover meaning” (Murray 27). Murray states throughout the text that the importance of writing is to discover meaning in personal experience and be able to express that. Language as presented in the quote, is a way for one to do so. 

As the essay continues, his usage of the word evolves. He goes from more specific usages of the word to a more expansive context. Near the end of the essay he firmly claims, “There are no absolutes in language.” (Murray 30). The word in this instance is used as a broad statement. With the quote, Murray is referencing language as a whole, broad term that encompasses all of the aspects he discusses throughout the essay. He starts with more specified usages of the word and evolves to the context where it embodies all of the previously discussed connotations. These are just a few instances where Murray uses repetition to express his message and evolve his meaning through word choice. 

In conclusion, Donald Murray does a superb job of arguing and utilizing his views towards the element of repetition. As a writer, Murray knows that each reader has their own interpretation of the text unless it is clearly stated. Therefore, he uses this knowledge to clearly express his intended meaning by applying literary elements that help reinforce his argument. He uses the element of repetition in many different ways to further evolve his message in the essay. Through his literary work, Murray gives us a clear view of the “interior view of writing” and also gives us a representation on how to properly apply it in our own writing. Murray uses methods such as form, word choice, and quotes to insert repetition into the essay. With the essay, he successfully illustrates the “interior view” and its fundamental components such as repetition. 
