Language

Style of language

The short story “Boys and Girls” by Alice Munro is written in a formal style. The narration does not use slang or contractions, and the vocabulary is quite advanced. For instance:

They were beautiful for their delicate legs and heavy, aristocratic tails and the bright fur sprinkled on dark down their back — which gave them their name — but especially for their faces, drawn exquisitely sharp in pure hostility, and their golden eyes. (p. 3, ll. 27-29)

The style of language creates a serious tone. It also helps us understand that the perspective is that of an adult narrator remembering events which happened in her childhood. 

The repetition of the phrase “ ‘only a girl’ ” (p. 4, l. 5; p. 12, l. 6) is significant, as it highlights the negative meanings that people place on the female gender. When the narrator’s father says it in the climax of the story, i...

Teksten herover er et uddrag fra webbogen. Kun medlemmer kan læse hele indholdet.

Få adgang til hele Webbogen.

Som medlem på Studienet.dk får du adgang til alt indhold.

Køb medlemskab nu

Allerede medlem? Log ind