Language

The language of the short story “The Middle Children” by Rayda Jacobs is colloquial and easy to follow. The choice of words is related to life in South Africa and the situation of middle children (mixed-race people), as well as travelling, and relationships.

The story is written in the narrative mode, conveying the main character’s perspective, occasionally interrupted by dialogue sequences which are more dynamic and reveal more about the characters’ interactions.

Imagery is mostly used in the beginning of the text, helping readers form mental images about the main character or the setting: “Smartly dressed in knee-high boots, mini skirt, Beatles jacket, and black beret, Sabah got off the bus at Mowbray station, and walked down the step into …

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Similes and metaphors

Four similes stand out in the text. In the first case, middle children recognising each other is described “As a denture-wearer knows another plastic smile” (p. 22, ll. 17-18), a comparison which suggests the protagonist feeling like a fake white person (she is …