Language

Style of writing

The language employed by Stephen King in “The Man Who Loved Flowers” is relatively simple. The story is highly descriptive, as the author presents the characteristics of both places and people.

Dialogue is combined with narrative passages, making the story more dynamic. Free indirect speech is also employed, when the flower vendor imagines what the young man’s mother would say at seeing the cheap flower bouquet: “She don't spoil it by saying, ‘Oh Junior I love them how much did they cost oh that's too much don't you know enough not to throw your money around?’ ” (p. 178, ll. 16-18). This has the effect of making the interaction between the characters seem more authentic and realistic while also helping with the characterisation of the vendor as a chatty, easy-going person.

Fragmentation is also used occasionally in the text: “…man stood beside a chipped green handcart filled with flowers - the predominant colour was yellow; a yellow fever of jonquils and late crocuses” (p. 176, ll. 1-2). This helps the author add more info and draw attention to the flowers which are an important symbol in the text.

Ellipsis is used when an idea is not continued such as in: “It was getting darker now. . . could he have been mistaken? Surely not. It was Norma.”; (p. 179, ll. 41-42) “…and her name had not been Norma but he knew what his name was. It was. . . was…” (p. 180, ll. 21-22). The use of ellipsis helps suggest the man’s confusion and creates suspense with regards to what is going to happen next.

Choice of words and descriptive language

To introduce readers to the...