Language

Style of language

The short story “Celia Behind Me” by Isabel Huggan is written in a neutral style. The narration uses contractions, which give the story a natural feel. For instance: “My mother said, one day when I’d come into the kitchen” (l. 36). 

There are many negative words in the story, which highlight Elizabeth’s mindset, for instance, “shame” (l. 49), “humiliation” (l. 57), “stomach-wrenching” (ll. 52-53), “horror” (l. 146), “embittered” (l. 156). 

While the language in the dialogue reflects Elizabeth’s outlook as a child, the narration reflects her current outlook as an adult. For instance, in the following passage, we can notice the difference between the language she uses in dialogue and her adult self’s thoughts about her past actions: 

And then came the stomach-wrenching task of making the others quit. ‘You’d better stop,’ I’d say. ‘If my mother sees you she’s going to thrash us all.’ I knew, deep in my wretched heart, that were it not for Celia I was next in line for humiliation. (ll. 52-57)

While the dialogue uses slang terms, reflecting the speech pattern of a nine-year-old, the narration uses more ...