Language

Style of language

The language of the short story “Killing lizards” by William Boys is generally easy to follow and understand.

The choice of words indicates an informal style of writing. Contractions such as “I’m”, “What’s”, etc. are only present in the dialogue, which give it authenticity and convey the feeling of familiarity between the characters.

Gavin’s thoughts upon finding his mother’s glasses are written in uppercase. This emphasises the importance of Gavin’s implied realisation – that he can now use the glasses to force his mother to pay attention to him, possibly by threatening to expose her secret affair:

MUMMY…
A slow charge of triumph and joy began to fill his body.
OH MUMMY, I THINK…
He looked again at the sunglasses in his palms. Things would change now. Nothing would be the same after this secret. It seemed to him now as if he were carrying a ticking bomb.
OH MUMMY, I THINK I’VE FOUND YOUR SUNGLASSES. (ll. 151-158)

Imagery

Imagery is usually constructed in connection with the characters and the setting.

For example, imagery is created when the narrator describes Gavin and his parents’ physical appearance:

“He was a thing twelve-year-old boy with unusually thick eyebrows that made his face seem older than it was.” (ll.5-6);

“Gavin’s mother was sitting in front of her dressing table brushing her short but thick reddish-brown hair.” (ll. 45-46);

“He was tall and thin with sparse black hair brushed across his balding head.” (ll. 94-95)

The narrator’s description of the various locations in the story also creates imagery: “The school lay on a small hill overlooking a teak forest.” (l. 110).

The sense of touch is explored in connection with the sun: “The early afternoon sun beat dow...