Language

Style of language

The story “The Path to Heaven” by Mary O’Donnell is written in a relatively informal style. The narration uses contractions, and the tone is casual, for instance:

Lauren sighed critically at what she’d just written. It was going to be a day in which she’d have to force herself to stay put (…), when she’d rather catch a bus to the city to chat with friends in some bookshop café. (ll. 66-69)

The informal elements, along with the insight we get into the main character’s thoughts and feelings, helps to create a sense of connection between Lauren and the reader. We can identify with the characters.

The language used in the dialogues is very realistic, closely resembling natural speech, with swearwords and slang. For instance: “Are you fucking crazy?” (l. 105), or “Well, un-tell her” (l. 112).

Kalina’s speech, which is conveyed by the use of italics, suggests her limited knowledge of English grammar, as she often omits the verb “to be” from sentences, for instance: “Very tired today. Children awake all night” (ll. 75-76). She also sometimes uses the wrong tense...