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Literary Devices
Key Examples in Odour of Chrysanthemums
Part 2
Explanation and Analysis—Working Class Brits:
“Odour of Chrysanthemums” tells the story of working-class coal miners and their families in England in the early 20th century. One of the ways that Lawrence makes his story feel true-to-life is through his use of working-class dialect in dialogue between characters. Take the following passage, for example, in which Walter’s coworker Mr. Rigley explains to Elizabeth that he last saw Walter at the end of their work shift at the mine:
“Ah left ’im finishin’ a stint,” he began. “Loose-a’ ’ad bin gone about ten minutes when we com’n away, an’ I shouted, ‘Are ter cornin’, Walt?’ an’ ’e said, ‘Go on, Ah shanna be but a’ef a minnit,’ so we com’n ter th’ bottom, me an’ Bower, thinkin’ as ’e wor just behint us. Ah’d a ta’en a hoath as ’e wor just behint—an’ ’ud come up i’ th’ next bande——”
Related Themes:
