Language

Choice of words

Throughout “Buttony”, Fiona McFarlane frequently uses words that give the text a sense of magic and surrealism. These word choices are also used to convey the ritual aspects of the game played by the children, through the perspective of their teacher who directs them through it: “blessing of Buttony” (l. 54), “as if praying” (l. 112), “The button was no longer limited by its cheap yellow plastic; it seemed to pulse with life.” (ll. 26-27)

The author also conveys the importance of the game through word choices:“The children approved the justice of this appointment” (ll. 5-6). Despite the innocent topic of children playing, the writer frequently uses sophisticated words to describe the game: “largesse” (l. 13), “reverence” (l. 17), “solemnity” (l. 18), “processional” (l. 18). This shows that the entire activity holds a special meaning to Miss Lewis: “Miss Lewis wanted her children to live in a heightened way, and she encouraged this sort of ceremony” (ll. 28-29). Furthermore, she even considers it a good and beneficial thing, and she actively teaches the children to act accordingly.

Similes

There are several similes worth noting in the short story “Buttony”, which contribute to the sense of magic and surrealism in the text: “They were like children in a fairy tale, under a spell” (l. 113). In a very direct way, the author conveys the magic of the moment as perceived by the teacher guiding the children through their game. The teacher has a double role: that of captive audience, watching them with delight, but also that of guide, directing them through each round of the game. The spell represents the rule of the game, as the teacher instructs the children to wait with their heads down and eyes closed.

Similarly, the simile “their hands closed like sea anemones” (ll. 117-118) brings a complex element of surrealism to the story. Sea anemones are predatory animals that capture thei...