Language

The language of “Say Yes” by Tobias Wolff is simple American English, mixing narrative passages with dialogue and free indirect speech rendering the character’s thoughts. The choice of words reflects the characters’ mood and also hints at their tone during the conversation, through expressions like “oh boy” (p. 52, l. 34), or “he snapped, angry with her” (p. 53, l. 9).

Note that free indirect speech is not marked by graphic signs: “In another thirty years or so they would both be dead. What would all that stuff matter then?” (p. 54, ll. 38-39)

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In what follows, we will focus on:

• Imagery
• Ellipsis
• Symbols

Imagery

By imagery, we understand all visual and sensory images created for readers to grasp the atmosphere of the narrative, the setting and how the characters act.

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Similes and metaphors

An interesting simile is used towards the end of the text, comparing the traffic on the highway to a river: “On El Camino the traffic was steady and light, peaceful as a river.” (p. 54, ll. 36-37)

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Symbols

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