Fahrenheit-182: A Memoir

“To survive in the desert is a one-in-a-million shot. In this environment, nothing grows. Nothing lasts. Nothing makes it out or thrives. But somehow, I did. One-in-a-million happens to me all the time.”

Hoppus draws upon multiple literary devices early in his memoir, which add expression and personality to his writing. He uses anaphora in his repetition of the word “nothing,” emphasizing just how rare it is for him to have thrived in such a hostile place. Mark also uses an extended metaphor to explain how his life has been defined by Resilience and Defying the Odds. Finally, “one-in-a-million” is a common cliché that adds relatability to the writing.

“I wanted to be in the room where music was being made. Creating. Writing. Singing. I didn’t know how, but I wanted to be part of it.”

The use of asyndeton (single-word sentences without conjunctions) emphasizes the feeling of purpose and direction that started to come over Mark as he became involved in music. Where Mark once lacked direction, he now began to embrace Life as a Pursuit of Passions.

“It turned out, being a bass player was the perfect instrument for a mediator like me. As a bassist, it was my job to bridge the space between the rhythm of the drums and the melody of the guitar and vocals. I took what everyone was doing and helped them meet somewhere in the middle, laying the foundation that glued the song together.”

In this extended metaphor, Mark compares the role of a bassist in a band to the role he plays in his everyday life and relationships. Mark explains that he was the mediator during his parents’ conflict and divorce, and doing so gave him a sense of obligation to always keep everything flowing and the