Language
The language of the short story “The Woman of Letters” by Angela Readman is simple and easy to follow, using every day vocabulary related to online dating, village life, family, etc. Figurative speech is often used to convey the idea that the narrator views herself as a ‘woman of letters’ (a word-artist).
The story is conveyed by combining the narrative mode with direct speech, giving the plot dynamism and helping readers better understand the narrator’s deceitful attitude.
Imagery is noticeable on several occasions in relation to the setting, characters, and actions, helping readers visualise what is happening in the story:
I sweep May’s footprints off the rug like a woman made of dust. The…
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Similes
The story includes numerous similes that convey the narrator’s perspective on the events and characters and suggest her literary inclinations.
For example, the narrator describes May’s lips “like strawberries in the snow” (ll. 1-2) and tells her that the Canadian man needs her “like air” (l. 18). These similes show that the narrator uses exaggerated figurative language to tell May the romantic things she wants to hear. The poetic nature of these descriptions s…
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Metaphors
Two metaphors are used in the text, and help convey the narrator’s inclination for twisting reality and playing with language. The “sweetness that can bruise…
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Repetitions
Repetitions in the text help convey something about the characters’ attitude.
May’s impatience is conveyed whe…
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Symbols
The story includes a few symbols, most of which are related to the idea that the narrator is feeding unrealistic dreams of happiness to desperate girls.
The computer and the online dating site are symbolic of unauthentic interactions…
