Language Features Flashcards
Imagery
Twisting, ‘flamboyant curves’ - show mental upheaval
Curves eventually ‘plunging off into suicide’ - hints at suicidal tendencies
‘Lolling heads’ with ‘broken necks’ - show worsening mental condition with extrapolation
The colour was ‘repellant, almost revolting’ - her distaste shows her feeling trapped
Extended Metaphor
The faint figure ‘shaking the pattern’ before ‘breaking free’ and ‘creeping around the room’ - Her depression is the faint figure, her sanity the wallpaper
Repetition
‘But what is one to do’ - Shows the hopelessness and powerlessness of one under John’s rule
‘He said’ - Overuse of this terminology makes John’s comments highlight the power imbalance in the relationship, establishing him as the one in control
Irony
‘For I am too wise’ - Juxtaposed against her heightened psychosis
Internal Monologue
‘John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in marriage’ - Shows john’s brainwashing
‘Personally I disagree with their ideas’ - suggests a sense of suppressed rebellion (her thoughts and opinions remain free)
‘Just this nervous weakness I suppose’ - Internalising her husband’s dismissive views representative of society that trivialise women’s mental health
‘So I take phosphates and phosphites - whichever it is’ - establishes narrator as naive
Personification
‘The paper looks to me as if it knew what a vicious influence it had!’ - Indicates her worsening mental state and sense of victimisation
Rhetorical Question
‘Perhaps…perhaps that is one reason I do not get well faster’ - Growing self awareness restricted by hesitancy at john’s conditioning
Juxtaposition
‘I have a schedule prescription for each hour of the day; he takes all care from me’ - This highlights the difference between physical care (as in medicine or scheduling) and emotional or personal care (as in autonomy or respect for her desires).
