Language

  1. Gordimer’s story is characterized partially by the use of colons, semi-colons, and dashes.  Read over the first page and a half of the story carefully, noting where colons and semi-colons appear.  Substitute periods for each of these.  Note where dashes occur.  Substitute periods or parentheses for these.  Comparing the original and altered versions, answer the following questions:
    • What do semi-colons and colons seem to mean?  What connections do they establish between ideas before and after?
    • How does the meaning of words set off by dashes change when placed in parentheses?  when separated by a period?
  2. Revise a piece of your own writing by experimenting with colons, semi-colons and dashes.  How can you establish connections between ideas and subordinate ideas?