chemistry

• 'it followed an actual existing line ... grandfather were pulling us toward him on some invisible chord' exposition 


  ao1: communicating through invisible chord tying then together

  ao2: tautology presents he is trying to convince himself his family is fine/ geometric term emphasises his ability to communicate with his grandfather -symbolic of their unbreakable bond / active verb pulling grandchild doesnt want to lose grandfather
• 'it followed an actual existing line ... grandfather were pulling us toward him on some invisible chord' exposition 



  ao3/wi: modern reader feels sorry for the boy as communication isnt strong in this family he has to create a metaphor instead of openly discussing their grief. swift could be imitating that lack of communication could lead to splintering of a family
• 'now we are going to face ralph, now we are going to show our solidarity' pivotal


  ao1: lack of communication between boy and mum has lead to a divide/betrayal as mum takes ralphs side

  ao2: trying to unify his family against their controller / believes they are still a team and family / language of war and comradeship, faithful to comrades and dont betrayal them
• 'now we are going to face ralph, now we are going to show our solidarity' pivotal


  ao3: modern readers may be able to relate to the inability to communicate to parents when they get a new partner as they may feel threatened or insecure of their place in the house

  wi: swift sympathises through the first person viewpoint the distress to the child when the parent choses their new partner over their child
• 'the launch was still travelling over to him, unstoppable, unsinkable, along that invisible line' denouement 


  ao1: cyclical structure , power of memory , splintered family bond

  ao2: boy takes comfort in the memories of him and his grandfather before ralph came in and removed their ability to express their feelings/ repetition of defiant prefix emphasises his certainty that being unable to communicate with his mother has splintered his family/ he thinks of his grandfather as he was the only one able to truly understand him
• 'the launch was still travelling over to him, unstoppable, unsinkable, along that invisible line' denouement

  ao3: this holds more relevance in todays society which advocates for healthy communication in families; the dysfunction shown evokes sympathy in the reader for the lost child

  wi: swifts intention for this story was to explore how generational conflict can have a damaging effect on a childhood, however it also teaches how love transcends death and how fast families can change