Language

Style of language

The language used by Jay Williams in “Petronella” is simple and easy to follow as the story is a fairy tale that should be accessible for both children and adults.

Narrative passages are combined with dialogue making the text more dynamic. Whenever the writer wants to emphasise something, words are italicised:  “Until now. Now was the time of King Peter the twenty-sixth…” (p. 113, ll. 10-11).

The story also includes interjections which make it more lively and create auditory imagery: “Petronella heard him coming – thump! thump!—behind them again.” (p. 119, ll. 13-14).

Choice of words and imagery

The story includes various descriptive words which help readers form mental images of the characters, the action, or the setting.

Descriptive words and phrases related to the characters focus on their physical appearance: “tall handsome girl” (p. 113, l. 28), “flaming red hair” (p. 113, ll. 28-29), “wrinkled old man” (p. 114, l. 4), “old man” (p. 115, l. 8), “handsome young man” (p. 115, l. 15), “tall and thin” (p. 115, l. 30), “purple pyjamas” (p. 118, l. 20).

Additionally, Williams uses various descriptive adverbs that convey how the characters speak or act: “gloomily” (p. 113, l. 14), “promptly” (p. 114, l. 21), “haughtily” (p. 114, l. 5), “boldly” (p. 115, l. 34), “grimly” (p. 118, l. 26), “grumpily”(p. 118, l. 37), “cheerfully” (p. 120, l. 8).

Various descriptive words convey elements of the setting, transporting the re...