The umbrella forest

Text: an original contemporary personal-essay-style practice extract.

The entrance to the community hall had grown a forest. Black umbrellas crowded the stand, their handles hooked together like branches after a storm. Mine was yellow: a small, unnecessary sun. I could see it from my chair throughout the talk, which meant I could also see a man lift it, test its weight and frown.

“That one’s mine,” I called. The sentence sounded absurdly grand, as if I had claimed an island. He apologised and discovered his own umbrella buried underneath three others. I moved my chair slightly so that the yellow handle remained in view. The stand offered no tickets, numbered hooks or watchful attendant. It was a system built from memory, patience and good manners — materials I did not entirely trust.

After the talk, the forest thinned. Umbrellas were shaken open and carried into the clearing weather until only mine and one plain black umbrella remained. A teenager picked up the black one, examined it and carried it to the reception desk. “Someone will come back for this,” she said. Then she left without an umbrella at all. I collected mine, embarrassed by how carefully I had guarded it. The stand had been untidy, not lawless.

Analyse how the writer uses language and structure to interest and engage the reader.

In your answer, consider:

• language features and techniques
• structural techniques
• the effect on the reader.

Support your views with detailed reference to the extract.