Language

Style of language and choice of words

In “Mink” by Marina Warner, narrative mode is occasionally mixed with dialogue, adding to characterisation through direct speech: “ ‘You don’t need a new coat, and you certainly don’t need a stole. A stole is a silly bit of fluff, and it makes you look like one.’ ” (ll. 67-68).

The story includes many descriptive words that refer to fur, fashion, and appearances. Such words highlight the importance of glamour in the story. Here are some examples: “an exotic blow-in” (l. 7), “unbelievably luxurious” (l. 19), “high arches” (l. 19), “soft depths” (l. 20), “little voile” (l. 41), “black eyes” (l. 45), “supple density” (l. 49), “liquorice eyes” (l. 59), “a silly bit of fluff” (ll. 67-68), “a very fine winter coat” (l. 82), “fiery little woman” (l. 88), “lively exotic mother” (l. 96), etc.

Some other descriptive words are related to food or house pets, which convey the domestic environment the characters live in: “juicy bits” (l. 30), “fine threads of creamy pinkness” (l. 33), “pink-eyed white mouse” (ll. 52-53), “rose-pale flesh” (l. 54).

Occasionally descriptive words also help introduce the setting, real or imaginary: “wind-whipped fens” (l. 8), “mist-wreathed boat” (l. 24), “enchanted lake” (l. 25), “spire-crowned island” (ll. 25-26), “bitter winters” (l. 129), etc.

The story also contains descriptive passages that help readers visualise how the characters look and act and, in this way, transport them into the story’s environment. Most of the descriptive language in the story concerns Donna and helps outline how she fascinated her daughters: “She smoothed her new perm off her cheek with the inner, soft edge of her forearm above the wet gloves, and went on:” (ll. 12-13); “Her eyebrows were plucked into high arches and she flung back her head, to snuggle into the soft depths, with parted lips, like a film star on a poster.” (ll. 19-20).

In another example, detailed descriptions helps show how creative children can be and how Donna inspired this in Beatrice: “I saw queens and princes floating by, alighting on a mist-wreathed boat to sail, rudderless, across an enchanted lake towards a fairy...