Language

Style of language

The language of the short story “The Sea in Me” by Krishan Coupland is generally easy to follow and understand. The author uses contractions both in the dialogue and the narration, which helps convey the narrator’s voice and keep a generally informal tone throughout the story: “At the pool it’s different. I can drift down to the bottom and sit until my fingers go wrinkly.” (ll. 6-7); “ ‘You’ll be fine,’ he says. ‘You’re such a good swimmer. You’re gorgeous.’ ” (l. 48).

We also encounter indirect speech in the story, for example when Martin agrees to go to the seaside with the narrator: “After missing the semis he’s so anxious to make things up that of course he says yes” (l. 121).

The author generally uses long and medium sentences, which help express complex ideas. However, we encounter short and fragmented sentences as well, which emphasise certain ideas: “It looks right. It smells right.” (l. 138); “This is the same ocean that washes up on the shores of America. Huge.” (ll. 136-137). Other times, fragmented sentences suggest deeper meanings, adding to the mystery surrounding the narrator: “I wonder if he can taste the things that are different about me. The changedness. The sea in me.” (ll. 164-165).

Imagery, similes, and metaphors

Imagery is used extensively in the short story. The narrator often describes the events, the setting, and herself in detail, as well as the other characters.

For example, imagery is used to convey the mother’s pride in her daughter’s achievements: “Every trophy I’ve ever won is in the cabinet downstairs. She’s even kept the […] stupid paper certificates I got for completing my swimming lessons at school.” (ll. 19-20).

The narrator's relationship with Martin is also conveyed through imagery - for example, the fact that Martin seems to sexually dominate her is suggested through his actions: he grabs her by the hair (ll. 26-27) and pins her against one of the walls in the pool (ll. 38-40).

Imagery and similes are used to create a sense of mystery around the narrator: “Sometimes in the bath I plunge my head under the water and will the scars on my neck to open wide like mouths.” (ll. 1-2). “There’s another patch low down on my back as we...