How Does Michael Frayn Convey Fear and Tension on Pg 130 in "Spies"

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Minnie Schwarzenegger HOW DOES FRAYN CONVEY TENSION AND FEAR ON P130 Frayn uses a number of language techniques and descriptive methods that engage the reader, enhancing the effect of every technique and sense, as well as purposely drawing attention to detail and his particular choice of words. Through this, Frayn is able to create a tense atmosphere and actively engage the reader, conveying the underlying theme of fear and tension in this passage. The first of Frayn’s language techniques is his use of the narrative. Stephen’s narrative of the “Barns” is entirely detached from Keith, with no mention of him until the very end. This prevents distraction from his stream of consciousness like narrative, the focal point shifts from what he is describing – to how he describes it; in the present tense, as if his memory were taking him back to his childhood, this helps to involve the reader, which automatically heightens each idea and motion. This is illustrated by his use of the phrase “we’ve come on a journey”; ‘we’, which refers contextually to Stephen and Keith, is now adult Stephen referring to his childhood self in first person rather than adopting his usual third person tone. This connects the two - as if transporting Stephen back to his childhood, and the use of “we” draws us in and transports us back with him. To further enhance this, Stephen uses words that convey the similarity and familiarity of objects he describes: “familiar” rattle, “finally” emerges, “journey “and the repetition of the word “familiar”. Directly linking with the above is another language technique present in this passage: Frayn’s use of the narrative as a tool to present Stephen’s stream of consciousness. Drawing in the reader in such ways, Frayn is able to create an underlying sense of alarm and thus arouses fear – the amplified senses and motions contrast with the ambiguity of the
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