"Contrast: to set in opposition in order to show or emphasize differences." The purpose of contrast in literary pieces is just that, to show differences. Like the differences that arise as two youths, Amy and David, grow, in the short story "And Summer is Gone" by Susie Kretchmer. Contrast is shown on two levels in this short story. The first being contrast in academic achievement. The second being contrast in cliques.
             Academic achievement is one measure in which contrast is shown. At one point David and Amy were at par when it came to their educations and academic achievements. David is a young man of intelligence who'd always had "straight-A's" throughout his life. On the contrary "Amy's grades slipped... she was getting B's and C's," as the years passed by. The dropping off of Amy's grades leads to a belief of lack of effort and disinterest on her part. This shows the differences of David and Amy. David continued his academic efforts and kept his grades whereas Amy would "leaver her house every evening – there seemed no night when she didn't go out." The characters contrast severely as one progresses and excels through studies, whilst the other digresses from what she once was. Evidently this shows a difference that arises as the two age.
             Furthermore both Amy and David belong to different 'genres' of teens. Also known as cliques, and practically blatant stereotypes, David is a 'loner' and Amy is somewhat popular 'prep'. Amy was of "the sort that are almost popular, those who get invited to every party... those who carry gossip... extras surrounding the popular ones." David would say in the story, "I spent more time on my art, alone." A pubescent teenager would gravely state that such contrast can be compared to that of the extreme 'lefties' and 'righties' of a p...