The dog in the market

An original fiction passage set in the nineteenth century.

Clara hurried between the market stalls, holding her basket close. A small grey dog followed at her heels.

“Go away,” she said, without looking back. Its nails tapped over the stones: an irritating little echo. She quickened her pace, but the tapping quickened too.

Then a cart swung around the corner. The dog leapt away from the wheel and cried out. Clara stopped. Around its neck was a cracked leather collar; beneath it, the fur had been rubbed away. A short length of rope dragged through the mud.

Clara knelt and held out her hand. The dog hesitated before touching its cold nose to her fingers. When Clara stood, she lifted the muddy rope instead of leaving it. She walked more slowly, and soon the tapping beside her had settled into the same rhythm as her own steps.

Analyse the writer’s use of language and structure in presenting the change in Clara’s attitude towards the dog. Use evidence from the passage to support your ideas.

You should consider:

• Clara’s words and movements at the beginning
• the moment when her attitude changes
• how the ending contrasts with the opening.