The title

Another aspect that you are asked to discuss is the title of the short story – “Flotsam and Jetsam”. Titles are very important because they indicate the theme of the story or a key motif in the story. Furthermore, they could be seen as a form of advertising. Some titles might inspire readers while others might fail to attract readership.

“Flotsam and Jetsam” is an expression which has both a literal and a figurative meaning:

• The literal meaning is floating cargo from a shipwreck (usually let adrift intentionally).
• The figurative meaning refers to something that is worthless or unnecessary, something that can be discarded.

Consider how the title depicts Kate’s state of mind and opinion of life in Britain: “‘I, uh,’ she found herself saying, babbling,...