Language
The language employed in the short story “The Journey to the Brothers’ Farm” by Pippa Gough is fairly simple to understand. As the events take place in South Africa, there are several words that belong to that area and Afrikaans language: “tsala ya me” (l. 153), “Tswana” (l. 82), “bakkie” (l. 29).
As you have seen, the story mixes dialogue with narrative and descriptive passages, making the story more complex. The dialogue is very important because it highlights the contrast between Annelie and Thabo and the difference in their statuses. For instance, the following extract shows that Annelie is seen as superior by Thabo, whom she treats just like she used to treat him when they were young:
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There are several other linguistic devices employed in the story that you could look at:
- Imagery
- Similes
- Repetition
- Symbols
Similes
A few similes help readers create complex comparisons in their minds. For instance, Hendriks states that white people should treat Africans “like animals” (l. 42), while Thabo states that...
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Symbols
The rifle is a very important symbol in the story. First, note that after her husband has died, Annelie always travels with her husband’s old rifle in the car with her. In this case, the rifle is a symbol of protection and safety, as Annelie is a woman who travels alone, which can be dangerous.
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