can someone please tell me what the instructor means when he says...explain or analyze silence as the theme of a story?

Question

anonymous · Answer

Sometimes silence can be very powerful. It can be used with a threatening posture to scare someone, or it can be used by an entire group as when neighborhood citizens remain silent after a crime.  In the latter example, those neighbors are taking part in a crime by their silence. In the former example, the silent character leaves his scare tactics to the imagination of the readers.  Does that help?  Closely examine how silence is used in your piece of literature.  Who is silent?  Why?  and to what effect?

anonymous · Answer

yes it does help. thank you

anonymous · Answer

great--what is the piece of literature you are reading?