Spies By Michael Fayn Language Techniques

Experts believe that when a person experiences an appalling horrible and gruesome experience, it permanently sticks with them for the rest of their lives. In the case of Stephen Wheatly, a character from the book Spies by Michael Frayn, he encountered an event so unpleasant and eerie that he remembers it sixty years later. As he remembers it in the pages of 88 to 89, Frayn uses abundant techniques to showcase the encounter through Stephen’s memory. It includes Stephen remembering the event of him going through a spooky neighborhood tunnel during his childhood. Within this, Michael Frayn uses writing techniques like diction to depict Stephen’s emotions and perception of the experience. Frayn also utilizes the technique of sensory language that

Repetition and rhythm to develop the reader’s understanding about Stephen’s perception. The author, Michael Frayn develops and creates Stephen’s memories through the techniques of diction, sensory language, repetition and rhythm which enables and improves the reader’s understanding of Stephen’s perception of the memory.

Diction is a salient technique developed within the passage to showcase Stephen’s perception of the scene. Michael Frayn uses specific words to signify Stephen’s attitude towards the tunnel. He states as he goes through the “rare ventures through that long, low darkness.” the use of the words “long” and “low” depict the darkness of the place. He “glimpse[s] the perils that lay beyond the echoing ordeals.”, the use of the word “perils” gives an impression of something of grave and immediate danger,