Language and Structure Analysis
Language Analysis
Family Relationships
This story explores tension within family relationships - for example, this story is full of boundaries (in itself) such as, the garden wall (where Therese dug up the hole where she discovered the ring and ultimately the dead body) , the end of childhood (both Eveline and Therese have serious decisions and have to come to terms with Mr Mordecai's horrendous crime) and the beginning of the end of a mothers natural authority (in the story we discover Eveline wearing the stolen ring only whilst her mothers at work, to avoid being asked about it). Also, you can say that there is the excitement of starting a new phase in life and on the other hand there is the warm and comfort of the mother daughter bond which is about to be broken. We know this when Eveline says "The ring I cleaned with an old toothbrush and wore sometimes, but only ever while Mum was at work", the significance of 'but only while mum was at work' shows how Eveline knows what she has done, like she is guilty.
The following quote "I'd fashioned a bikini...just below my nipples" is the presentation of how Eveline is physically and sexually maturing (on the edge of knowledge) which foreshadows how her and Therese will mentally mature over the course of one summer. Also the quote "curled in a damp embrace... breathing hotly against my hip... arm was flung out" this gives us a powerful visual image of Eveline as a mother figure and Therese as a innocent child - the quote emphasises the neediness of small children.
The following quote "I'd fashioned a bikini...just below my nipples" is the presentation of how Eveline is physically and sexually maturing (on the edge of knowledge) which foreshadows how her and Therese will mentally mature over the course of one summer. Also the quote "curled in a damp embrace... breathing hotly against my hip... arm was flung out" this gives us a powerful visual image of Eveline as a mother figure and Therese as a innocent child - the quote emphasises the neediness of small children.
Structural Analysis
The main action (primary incident) of the story takes place in the garden which has many representations, one of which being the confined life of Eveline and how she has no means of escape from it. Also the garden can represent the change from a safe secure place to a dangerous one - the idea is portrayed is what happens in the garden stays kept a secret within the garden.
The inciting incident of the story occurs when Therese discovers on a wasps nest and the wasps come out and sting her, so Eveline drowns them with a hosepipe. The significance of this inciting incident is that the title 'When the Wasps Drowned' links to this incident rather than the primary incident. This event foreshadows the danger, sadness and death to come in the climax and dénouement - the nest represents the same confining concept as the garden.
The rising action of the story is when we find out Tyler and Therese are digging a hole near the garden wall - although this part of the story is only 4 paragraphs long, the action is still significant. Only one of the paragraphs (starting from line 47) is actually about digging the hole in the garden, the rest is just leading up to it ('setting the scene'). The climax of this story occurs when Therese discovers the ring on the hand under the ground (in Mr Mordecai's garden) and the aftermath of this discovery - it disrupts the peace and happiness of the times in the garden and a result of that they go inside the house rather than stay in the garden. The dénouement of the story happens when the police officer comes to the house asking for a missing girl.
After we read the story we have many questions in our head - Is the girl in the photo the same one buried in the garden?, Will she ever be discovered?, Who is Mr Mordecai?, Is he guilty of the murder? This story leaves us in a very curious mood and throughout we are forced to sympathise with the characters.
The inciting incident of the story occurs when Therese discovers on a wasps nest and the wasps come out and sting her, so Eveline drowns them with a hosepipe. The significance of this inciting incident is that the title 'When the Wasps Drowned' links to this incident rather than the primary incident. This event foreshadows the danger, sadness and death to come in the climax and dénouement - the nest represents the same confining concept as the garden.
The rising action of the story is when we find out Tyler and Therese are digging a hole near the garden wall - although this part of the story is only 4 paragraphs long, the action is still significant. Only one of the paragraphs (starting from line 47) is actually about digging the hole in the garden, the rest is just leading up to it ('setting the scene'). The climax of this story occurs when Therese discovers the ring on the hand under the ground (in Mr Mordecai's garden) and the aftermath of this discovery - it disrupts the peace and happiness of the times in the garden and a result of that they go inside the house rather than stay in the garden. The dénouement of the story happens when the police officer comes to the house asking for a missing girl.
After we read the story we have many questions in our head - Is the girl in the photo the same one buried in the garden?, Will she ever be discovered?, Who is Mr Mordecai?, Is he guilty of the murder? This story leaves us in a very curious mood and throughout we are forced to sympathise with the characters.