“The Thing in the Forest” by A.S. Byatt uses formal and informal diction to replicate the form of children’s vocabulary as well as the adult lexicon. Because of the underlying theme of the narrative being how childhood trauma may shape adulthood, and in some cases, prompt growing up quicker than average, the use of both types of diction works well together to subtly assist the reader to connect childhood to adulthood.
One such instance where the stark contrast between formal and informal diction occurs is in the first paragraph. When talking about what objects the children are carrying, Byatt writes, “With their suitcases, some of which were almost too big to carry, and their other impedimenta, a doll, a toy car, a comic, they were like a
One such instance where the stark contrast between formal and informal diction occurs is in the first paragraph. When talking about what objects the children are carrying, Byatt writes, “With their suitcases, some of which were almost too big to carry, and their other impedimenta, a doll, a toy car, a comic, they were like a