Language
The language used in the short story “The Osage Orange Tree” by William Stafford is Standard American English, which is simple and easy to follow, posing no difficulties in the overall understanding of the text. The tone is slightly detached and casual, while the choice of words is related to the socio-historical context of the Great Depression and the setting.
The narration mixes descriptive passages with short dialogues and direct address which engages the readers in the action: “I could tell about working for ten cents an hour - and then not getting paid; about families that ate wheat, boiled, for their main food, and burned wheat for fuel. You don't know how it would be.”
Here, we will focus on the following elements of language:
- Imagery
- Similes and comparisons
- Rhetorical questions
- Ellipsis
Imagery
The descriptive passages in the short story – which are quite a few – create imagery, enabling readers to imagine the setting, the characters, and even the action. Here is one example of imagery related to setting, in which we have highlighted the descriptive words:
