Language

For you to familiarise yourself with the context in which the story “Walking the Dog” by Bernard MacLaverty is set and the author’s style, an overview of the short story’s language is required.

Bernard MacLaverty has written the story in a simple, concise language, which mainly relies on slang and colloquial forms of words. The dialogue between the characters is short and offensive:

"I said, any other names?"
"No."
"You're lying in your teeth. Not even a Confirmation name?"
"No."
"What school did you go to?" 

In the narrative passages, the narrator is more descriptive, particularly when it comes to the physical setting and atmosphere: “It was a country road lined by hedges and ditches. Beyond the housing estate were green fields as far as Lisburn. The city had grown out to here within the last couple of years.” 

Imagery

The narrative qualities of the language are enhanced by imagery, which refers to the use of descriptive words and stylistic devices meant to make readers imagine and even hear or feel what the characters are experiencing. Here is an ...

Comparisons

A few comparisons are employed, some of which clarify certain aspects while others convey respect. In the next example, the author uses a comparison to clarify something about what John is hearing and seeing: “John heard the beeping of a " ...

Symbols

The most important symbols in the short story are the car of the so-called IRA men and the dog owned by John. Additionally, the winter setting with the “paved path” , “short slope” and “icy surface” becomes a symbolic reflection of the context the ...