Language

Style of writing in lines 1-11

Part of your essay should focus on Kate London's style of writing in lines 1-11 of the short story “We Do Not Deal in Guilt or Blame”. This section is at the beginning of the short story and presents the narrator and her boyfriend having an argument. 

The language used in this section is informal. Words and expressions such as “fucked-up thing” (l. 7) and “my shit” (l. 8) reflect the main characters’ youth and their casual style of conversation with each other. Since the words belong to the boyfriend and he is older than the narrator, it could also be his attempt to appear younger and to project a certain image of himself. 

The boyfriend’s statement “We do not deal in guilt or blame” (ll.4-5) points to his habit of using self-improvement quotes whenever he argues with his girlfriend. 

The section also includes the simile “He put a hand up like someone stoppin...