As the extract continues we can recognise that Flora, being the person she is, isn’t fazed by Elfine’s first reactions in the slightest. The reader can understand that this is an unusual first encounter for two relatives. The sibilance alliteration used creates this idea of how abrupt Elfine’s reactions were and the silence created by this unexpected meeting. From the phrase, “She stopped, as though shot, at the sight of Flora… We can gather that Elfine is stunned by the sight of Flora, and she has to stop and compose herself giving her time to think of a reaction. During this paragraph there is a complete antithesis of this first description. ” Represents Elfine as a swift character emphasised by the verbs ‘dashed’ and ‘running’ which also portray Elfine as quite shy. When Gibbons states, “… who had just dashed through the kitchen, came running lightly down the corridor towards her. We also see Flora beginning to plan out what needs to be done with Elfine only after a brief encounter.įirstly, Gibbons demonstrates the type of effect Flora has on her cousin, Elfine, specifically when their paths first cross. However during this particular extract we witness an introduction to Elfine, Flora’s cousin and the way in which the two react and behave upon first meeting. In the run up to this extract, we get insight to Flora’s first experience at Cold Comfort Farm we are introduced to the characters of Adam and Judith along with Flora’s perception of them. Using integrated linguistic and literary approach explore how Gibbons presents the relationships between Flora and Elfine in this extract.

Flora cold comfort farm