The darkness described in the initial paragraph is another focal point in ‘Hope’, where it has been personified to an extent that it is ‘on the prowl, tucking everything in’. A negative connation of the darkness is portrayed, where it seems to be almost to be stealthy, sly character that can be visualised by the reader. Delving deeper into the world of darkness, the reader’s attention could subtly be drawn to a theme of injustice. By understanding the lexis further, it can be seen how the corrupt darkness can hide crime, allowing people to act invisibly, thus portraying a symbol of injustice.
Superlatives are employed in ‘Hope’, indicating a definite difference to the text in the second paragraph, virtually drawing all movement to a standstill. ‘The dark place seems to be the darkest, and the long night seems to be the longest’. Through the use of superlatives here, the initial rhythm built in the first paragraph is slowed down, encouraging the reader to read at a slower tempo, taking in each and every word. The slow rhythm compliments the slow breathing pattern of a sleeping person, which is abruptly drawn to a halt when they ‘awake with a jolt’, thus allowing the reader to create that vital mental picture.
The reader is able to interact with the text through the use of the phonological features, allowing them to form a personal picture of the scene. ‘Bitter winter wind’, emphasises the harsh weather through the simultaneous use of alliteration and assonance, and the reader is vividly able to sense the harshness of the biting wind. Alliteration is also employed elsewhere, aiding the reader to grasp the concept with as much emphasis as possible. ‘Deep, dark figure’ is alliterated to produce an impact on the reader, highlighting the menacing form of darkness.
By presenting a non-conversational opening description with just a singular character, the scene and tone have been set leaving the plot a mystery, creating a sense of suspense for the reader. By stressing and emphasising words such as ‘deeper’ and ‘darkness’, the text is engulfed by a sense of isolation and danger, surrounding the reader as well as the character. Extensive description is employed by using different verbs such as ‘hovering’, ‘creeping’, ‘rolling’, inventing various actions for one thing, ultimately creating an immense more imaginable visual image.
‘Hope’ has many linguistic features enclosed in it’s text, some of which contribute to the visual side of the mental picture and some on the phonological side although I feel the devices used could be more finely applied to potentially create more suspense for the reader. However, there is some subtle yet successful description that highlights the social injustice, crime, and the feeling of vulnerability. It is through the use of profound imagery coupled with the concluding line of the text that such ideas are able to be prominent in the minds of readers, portraying an overall hopeful, yet hopeless image.
