Language

Style of writing

The language used in the novel extract “Grace” by Philipp Meyer portrays the decline of the steel mill industry in the US. In this light, the author’s choice of words focuses on negative terms that highlight the effects of deindustrialization. Words like “vacant”, “abandoned”, “exhausted”, and “empty” hint at the population loss and the decay of the infrastructure. In contrast, words like “promising”, “beautiful”, and “full-looking” describe the valley in the past. 

Then, the author uses words and expressions related to the steel mill industry and factory work in general, like “the rolling line”, “shiftchange”, “serv...