The unclaimed medal

An original fiction passage set in the nineteenth century.

Arthur carried the medal in his pocket all afternoon. He had imagined showing it at every opportunity, but the other runners had left the field without looking at him. During the final turn, he had stepped inside the marked line. Nobody had noticed. The medal’s edge pressed against his leg whenever he walked.

At home, his mother asked how the race had gone. He described the start, the cheering and the final sprint. Then he stopped. The medal lay on the table between them, bright enough to attract every glance. Arthur explained the turn. His mother said nothing while he finished. The next morning, he took the medal back to the organiser, carrying it openly in his hand.

Analyse how the writer uses language and structure to show Arthur’s changing view of his achievement. Support your answer with references to the passage.