Language

The short story “Noel” by Michael Plemmons is written in a fairly simple and easy-to-follow language, but the choice of words indicates a mixture between business terms and everyday terms related to children, helping the author convey the idea that children are treated as objects:

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Imagery

Imagery, a narrative technique in which descriptive words are intentionally employed to create visual images and sensory details, is used in the short story to immerse readers into its atmosphere.

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Repetition

Repetition is used in the short story to convey Mrs. Hathaway’s submissiveness in relation to her manager,...

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Symbols

The most important symbolical elements in the short story are those related to Christmas. The tree and the decorations, together with the Christmas songs on the vinyl, gain a reverse symbolism in the story.

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