Language
An overview of the language of “England versus England” by Doris Lessing shows that the author employs two types of English, the proper English of the middle class, and the common, mispronounced English of the working class:
Charlie said angrily: 'I got fed up with t'earls and t'dukes.'
'Eh,' said Lennie quickly, 'but you didn't need to mind them, they didn't mean to rile you'. (p. 76, ll. 23-25)
'"You are sound in wind and limb," he said,' said Charlie, parodying an upper-class English voice for the Irishman's pleasure. (p. 80, ll. 38-40)
Consequently, we can say that even the choice of words in the short story is meant to illustrate English class differences.
The author conveys the story through narrative and descriptive passages and dialogue, but also inner thoughts and monologue, making the whole narrative quite complex and realistic.
Aside from these general features, you might also find it useful to look at some specific language devices and techniques employed by the author:
- Imagery
- Similes
- Metaphors
- Personification
- Repetition
- Rhetorical questions
- Symbols
Repetition
Repetition is used either to convey the feelings of the protagonist, such as in the following example, when we sense his disgust with his home village:
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Symbols
The story does not convey very specific symbols. Still, we can find symbolical meanings in the characters or some of the setting elements.
For instance, the description of Charlie’s village becomes symbolic of poverty...
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