Language

The language of the story “The Christmas Tin” by Amanda Craig is generally easy to follow, although it is often figurative and metaphorical.

Style of writing

Sometimes, the author employs difficult words such as ziggurat (l.13), steadfastness (l. 50), derisory (l. 78), or contemptible (l.80), which reflects the intellectual side of the narrator. This applies to the main character as well, as her characterisation suggests she is knowledgeable on different topics, although her children do not consider this to be true (ll. 77-78). This comes in contrast with the word “poned” (l. 94) used by Robbie, which suggests he is an adolescent because he uses specific slang.

Throughout the story, narration is mixed with dramatic dialogue. Similes, metaphors, personification and symbols are used to give deeper meaning to the story. The sentences are usually long and we sometimes encounter ellipsis, which is an omission of words indicated in the story by the em dash (—), which shows the characters’ unfinished thoughts. Contractions such as “won’t”, “it’s”, “don’t”, etc. are present only in the dialogue, which gives it authenticity and indicates familiarity between the characters.

Imagery

Imagery is created from the beginning of the short story, and it is usually constructed in connection with the setting:

For once, the schoolyard looked less like barracks. Its high walls, topped with barbed wire, had banners pinned to the brickwork. ‚FOR A BETTER WORLD’, they said, with crude paintings of children holding hands and standing on top of a globe. […] (ll. 1-3)

Here, the schoolyard is compared with a military camp. The words on the banners become ironic in the circumstances created by an ongoing war in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Imagery also helps the author in characterisations. For example, we learn that...