Language

Style of language

The language of the short story “Dry September” by William Faulkner is generally easy to follow and understand.

The choice of words indicates an informal style of writing. Certain informal expressions, such as “on the slender side” (l. 106) or “ride upon the crest” (108), are used. Contractions such as “don’t”, “ain’t”, “you’re”, etc. are present throughout the text. They are used only in the dialogue, giving it authenticity and conveying a feeling of familiarity between the characters. Grammatical errors such as missing auxiliary verbs (“ ‘That's what I been telling them!’ ” (l. 55) or incorrect verb tenses (“ ‘Will Mayes never done it’ ” (l. 85)) are used to emulate a natural speech pattern especially encountered among speakers from southern parts of the United States. This speech pattern can also reflect the social background of the characters.

Descriptive language

Descriptive language is present throughout the text and is usually constructed in connection with the characters and the setting. The author makes use of vivid and descriptive language which appeals to human senses to add depth to the story.

For example, the narrator describes Minnie on a typical morning: “(…) she would appear on the porch in a lace-trimmed boudoir cap, to sit swinging in the porch swing until noon” (ll. 99-101). Here, the narrator combines language that refers to appearance with language that refers to movement. The language provides the reader with a vivid description of Minnie’s actions and looks, and her habits.

Similarly, the narrator uses descriptions of movement, sound, and touch to construct the setting: “There was no sound of nightbird nor insect, no sound save their breathing and a faint ticking of contracting...

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