Language

The language of the short story “Through the Tunnel” by Doris Lessing is very descriptive and occasionally complex.

Lengthy descriptive passages are mixed with brief dialogue lines that help illustrate Jerry’s relationship with his mother:

“ ‘Are you tired of the usual beach, Jerry? Would you like to go somewhere else?’ ‘Oh, no!’ he said quickly, smiling at her…” (ll. 16-18)

Also, the character’s thoughts are sometimes expressed as if they were direct speech but without quotation marks: “Supposing he turned dizzy in the tunnel? Supposing he died there, trapped? Supposing — his head went around…” (ll. 208-209)

Choice of words and imagery

The author sometimes uses more complex words and phrases such as “conscientiously worrying” (l. 10), “Contrition” (l. 12), “unfailing impulse of contrition” (ll. 18-19), etc.  However, this does not pose major challenges to the overall understanding of the text.

As the story is very descriptive, you will find numerous words and phrases that create mental images for the readers related to characters and setting.

For example, some of the descriptive words focus on Jerry’s character and attitude: “young English boy” (l. 1), “desperate, nervous supplication” (l. 59), “nervous, uncomprehending smile” (l. 60), “hot shame” (l. 91), “pleading grin” (l. 92), “A curious, most unchildlike persistence, a controlled impatience,” (ll. 129-193), etc.

Other descriptive words focus on the way the mother looks and acts: “a bright- striped bag” (l. 4), “white, naked arm” (ll. 5-6), “anxious, apologetic smile” (l. 12), “grave, embarrassed inspection” (l. 91), etc.

And some other phrases describe the local boys Jerry meets: “burned smooth dark brown” (l. 5...