Language

Style of writing

The language of the short story “Mother of the City” by Christopher Fowler is generally easy to follow and understand.The author uses contractions both in the dialogue and the narration, which helps convey the protagonist’s voice and keep a generally informal tone throughout the story: “I accepted her offer and never got around to moving further into town, and that’s why I’ll be dead by the time morning comes.” (p. 76, ll. 9-10); “ ‘You’re up from the sticks for your Big Night Out, but it’s not in here, not for you. You don’t fit.’ ” (p. 85, ll. 33-34)

We also encounter indirect speech in the story, for example when Michelle tells Douglas why she is attracted to him: “she told me that she was attracted to me because I was clearly an honest man. She said all women are looking for honest men.” (p. 80, ll. 7-9)

The author generally uses long and medium sentences, which help provide readers with many details. However, we also encounter short and fragmented sentences, which emphasise certain ideas: “Fucking London, I hate it.” (p. 76, l. 11); “ ‘This city. You’re either its friend, or its enemy.’ ” (p. 81, ll. 32-33)

Words or phrases with negative connotations are most noticeable in the story. They are used in connection to London and to life in the suburbs: “The streets were crowded and filthy and ripe with menace, the people self-obsessed and unfriendly” (p. 77, ll. 3-4); “Move here and you’ll soon pack your dreams away (…)...