Sarah Williams
Ms. Kasyanik
English 9H A2
1 December 2010
Dahl's Writing Style
Roald Dahl uses his mastery of diction, imagery, and language in his short stories “Beware of the Dog” and “Poison,” which makes them
interesting to read and leaves the reader thinking. The diction in “Beware of the Dog” is conversational and informal: “That will be funny. I’ll laugh a
little while I’m saying it, I’ll say it calm and slowly, and they’ll think I’m joking” (Dahl 688). Similarly, in “Poison,” the diction is informal and colloquial:
“‘Why, you dirty little sewer rat!’ ‘Shut up, Harry!’” (Dahl 345). Both stories have a very informal word choice that sometimes turns into slang.
The imagery in both short stories is very vivid and descriptive. In “Beware of the Dog,” Dahl uses the sense of sight to describe certain things:
“Above there was the sun, and the sun was white like the clouds, because it is never yellow when one looks at it from high in the air” (Dahl 688). In
“Poison,” the sense of sight is also used: “A litter father and I saw a button…a fly button, let alone a mother-of-pearl one” (Dahl 345). Dahl also uses
touch in “Beware of the Dog”: “He took it between his fingers and crumpled it” (Dahl 691). In “Poison,” smell was used: “The smell of chloroform was
awful” (Dahl 344).
The language in Dahl’s stories involves both figurative literary devices and jargon. In “Beware of the Dog,” Dahl uses figurative language: “He
watched it for so that that after a while it was no longer a fly, but only a black speck upon a sea of gray” (Dahl 692). Also in the same short story, there
is pilot jargon: “His right hand was on the stick and he was working the rudder bar” (Dahl 688). “Poison” includes doctor jargon: “Ganderbai was
already reaching down into his bag for a scalpel and a tourniquet” (Dahl 345). There is also vulgar language: “‘Hours and bloody hours and hours’” (Dahl
339). Overall, Dahl’s use of word choice, imagery, and language enticed the reader to continue reading and made the entire reading experience a
marvelous journey.
Ms. Kasyanik
English 9H A2
1 December 2010
Dahl's Writing Style
Roald Dahl uses his mastery of diction, imagery, and language in his short stories “Beware of the Dog” and “Poison,” which makes them
interesting to read and leaves the reader thinking. The diction in “Beware of the Dog” is conversational and informal: “That will be funny. I’ll laugh a
little while I’m saying it, I’ll say it calm and slowly, and they’ll think I’m joking” (Dahl 688). Similarly, in “Poison,” the diction is informal and colloquial:
“‘Why, you dirty little sewer rat!’ ‘Shut up, Harry!’” (Dahl 345). Both stories have a very informal word choice that sometimes turns into slang.
The imagery in both short stories is very vivid and descriptive. In “Beware of the Dog,” Dahl uses the sense of sight to describe certain things:
“Above there was the sun, and the sun was white like the clouds, because it is never yellow when one looks at it from high in the air” (Dahl 688). In
“Poison,” the sense of sight is also used: “A litter father and I saw a button…a fly button, let alone a mother-of-pearl one” (Dahl 345). Dahl also uses
touch in “Beware of the Dog”: “He took it between his fingers and crumpled it” (Dahl 691). In “Poison,” smell was used: “The smell of chloroform was
awful” (Dahl 344).
The language in Dahl’s stories involves both figurative literary devices and jargon. In “Beware of the Dog,” Dahl uses figurative language: “He
watched it for so that that after a while it was no longer a fly, but only a black speck upon a sea of gray” (Dahl 692). Also in the same short story, there
is pilot jargon: “His right hand was on the stick and he was working the rudder bar” (Dahl 688). “Poison” includes doctor jargon: “Ganderbai was
already reaching down into his bag for a scalpel and a tourniquet” (Dahl 345). There is also vulgar language: “‘Hours and bloody hours and hours’” (Dahl
339). Overall, Dahl’s use of word choice, imagery, and language enticed the reader to continue reading and made the entire reading experience a
marvelous journey.