Language

Style of language

The language used in “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” includes some complex words and sentences that do not always follow the word order of everyday English. One example is “Omelas bright-towered by the sea” (p. 35, ll. 1-2), which lacks a verb. The author also uses inverted syntax, placing the verb at the end: “In the streets between houses with red roofs and painted walls, between old moss-grown gardens and under avenues of trees, past great parks and public buildings, processions moved.” (p. 35, ll. 4-6). This has the effect of making the text more elegant and literary, as well as evoking the language of fairy tales. 

A key feature of the choice of words is the use of contrast between dark and light. While the first part of the text has plenty of positive words, focusing on idyllic descriptions, the second part has more negative words that transmit darker meanings connected to the child in the basement. For example, while ...