Language
Given that the short story “The Tree of War” by Tanya Datta is told from the point of view of a child, the language employed in the text is simple and easy to understand.
Dialogue is employed mostly when Krishna talks to his friends and when they make plans for the Nuclear War game. When Krishna’s father complains to his son, his words resemble a monologue rather than a dialogue, as Krishna only listens and never speaks:
‘My friends warned me. But I wouldn’t listen. I allowed her too much independence. We haven’t even been man and wife since I came. Now I know why. No decent woman goes out at this time of night.’ He laughs but it comes out like a sob. ‘You think she has gone to a hotel? You think it’s someone from her work? I’ll kill her if I find out.’ (ll…
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Similes
The short story is full of similes, each having a specific purpose.
In the quotation “the three of us flatten down on the branches like leopards” (ll. 5-6), the simile suggests that Krishna and his friends view themselves as dangerous elements in the …
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Metaphors
The metaphor of the “raging volcano” (ll. 92-93) is employed in connection to Krishna’s father a…
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Symbols
The tree in which Krishna and his friends play war is the most important symbol in the story. For Krishna, the tree symbolises safety and comfort, as it is the place where he feels relaxed …
