Language

“Pride and Joy” by Philippa East combines descriptions with narration and dialogue, which makes the text more complex. The dialogue’s role is to present the relationships between characters, but also to offer clues about Billy’s condition: “ ‘Hap birdy too-oo, hap birdy too-oo,’ sang Billy” (l. 2).

When Meg talks to Mrs Jacks, the waitress comes across as kind and patient, obviously understanding when it comes to Billy’s condition:

‘I’m sorry,’ she said.
‘He’s not used to strangers.’
‘Bit shy, is he?’
‘He doesn’t mix well.’
‘Poor sweetheart.’ (ll. 46-49)

Similes

Similes are employed to suggest Mrs Jacks’ state of mind. When the narrator states that “something flurried in her like a sparrow” (l. 12), it...

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Metaphors

Only a few metaphors are employed in the text. One of them is that of the “frantic bird” (l. 167) in Mrs Jacks’ chest, which refers to her heart beating fast...

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Imagery

Imagery is employed when the garden shop is depicted. In the following quotation, visual and sensory imagery help readers visualise the garden shop and the lush plants growing inside it:

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Symbols

Symbols are also present in the story and have the role of showing the importance of several things in Mrs Jacks’ life. The diner is an important symbol because it represents a safe place for Billy, a place where he and his mother go every year for his birthday. As the diner is mostly empty, probably Mrs Jacks’ fear of judgement and ill-advised comments on behalf of strangers diminishes.

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