Feet from Reading in the Dark: Exploring the Concept of Childhood 
Name: Salathiel R. Wells Date: 14th July 2011
English Commentary
Feet
September 1948 The extract ‘Feet’ taken from Reading in the Dark (1996) explores the concept of childhood, an excelled level of maturity, neglect, fear as a dominant mood and the significance of “feet”- using it as a synecdoche to represent people. The writer conveys his message further through the use of imagery and many literary features namely: metaphors, repetition and personification. The extract tells of a child (who is the narrator) who is hiding under a table witnessing the ultimate fate of his younger sister, who is being taken to the hospital, and will probably die. “Feet” becomes a consistent motif throughout the extract as a means of anonymizing the characters. Deane uses this anonymity to extract emotion from the situation. “The plastic tablecloth hung so far down that I [the child] could only see their feet,” this opening sentence portrays the location of the narrator (under the table). This conveys a message of fear and nervousness the child may be experiencing and shows that the child has found ‘solace from the storm,’ from the danger, for the child does not have to face what lies beyond the surrounding tablecloth; all that lies beyond the hideout (which are lethal diseases that result in the death of a loved one-his younger sister Una). The reality of these threats that lie beyond the table cloth are emphasized by the boy’s keen observations. Already in the first paragraph we can visualize the table cloth and hear the voices of the adults. The concept of childhood is explored through various parts of the extract. “Although I was so crunched up” may give way to a fetal position. This position reiterates the point and reminds the audience that the narrator is a young child; it further represents the sense of fear within the child. This concept is further explored in line 3 where it states “our collie dog, Smoky.” Smoky proves to be a vital character
English Commentary
Feet
September 1948 The extract ‘Feet’ taken from Reading in the Dark (1996) explores the concept of childhood, an excelled level of maturity, neglect, fear as a dominant mood and the significance of “feet”- using it as a synecdoche to represent people. The writer conveys his message further through the use of imagery and many literary features namely: metaphors, repetition and personification. The extract tells of a child (who is the narrator) who is hiding under a table witnessing the ultimate fate of his younger sister, who is being taken to the hospital, and will probably die. “Feet” becomes a consistent motif throughout the extract as a means of anonymizing the characters. Deane uses this anonymity to extract emotion from the situation. “The plastic tablecloth hung so far down that I [the child] could only see their feet,” this opening sentence portrays the location of the narrator (under the table). This conveys a message of fear and nervousness the child may be experiencing and shows that the child has found ‘solace from the storm,’ from the danger, for the child does not have to face what lies beyond the surrounding tablecloth; all that lies beyond the hideout (which are lethal diseases that result in the death of a loved one-his younger sister Una). The reality of these threats that lie beyond the table cloth are emphasized by the boy’s keen observations. Already in the first paragraph we can visualize the table cloth and hear the voices of the adults. The concept of childhood is explored through various parts of the extract. “Although I was so crunched up” may give way to a fetal position. This position reiterates the point and reminds the audience that the narrator is a young child; it further represents the sense of fear within the child. This concept is further explored in line 3 where it states “our collie dog, Smoky.” Smoky proves to be a vital character