The Visitor.

This essay will summarise and evaluate the literary features of a short story titled 'The Visitor' which was written by Patricia Cresswell. The title 'The Visitor' invokes a picture of a person who hasn’t been out of there home for a very long time. This title sets up the story and implies that a character will visit this intriguing person or their home.

Patricia wrote the beginning and opening extremely atmospherically. She uses many descriptive words such as 'Thin, white, black and pale' this helps to set the scene beautifully and the reader is engaged, imagining the surroundings of the cottage. 'Black, brittle, pale, hard and dry' give off a semantic field that it has slightly cold or negative connotations. It also seems to be written with the intent of pushing a feeling of loneliness upon the reader or a feeling of loneliness surrounding the cottage 'This cottage was the only sign of civilisation for miles'. She also utilises personification 'the frosted grass seemed to be bristling, as if anticipating the approach of an intruder' thus making the grass have human qualities and more relatable. The feeling of the grass's anticipation of an impending intruder reflect onto the reader. The reader wants to read on as the suspense of a possible intruder builds. The descriptive language and imagery Patricia utilises 'thin white sun' 'ground was hard and dry' 'the frosted grass' play on the reader's senses and again has that semantic feel of cold and loneliness.

As the plot progresses there are descriptive sentences that set the scene mixed with short, punchy sentences like 'The door swung open.', 'She almost whispered it.' and 'McGill stared at her.' These grab the attention of the reader and creates a tension filled, suspenseful atmosphere. The character’s name McGill meaning 'son of the stranger' could be foreshadowing and the reader may think