29 pages • 58 minutes read
Beware of the Dog
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Literary Devices
Imagery
Dahl uses vivid imagery—descriptive language and sensory details—as a device to illustrate Peter’s journey to piece together the fragmented truth about the hospital. Moreover, throughout the text, concrete details ground Peter in his present reality during moments in which he is in danger of drifting into complete disorientation.
Sensory observations serve as clues to help Peter orient himself. He nearly passes out while piloting his plane, losing track of what he is doing until he sees “the sun shining on the engine cowling of his machine [… and] on the rivets in the metal, and he remembered the airplane and he remembered where he was” (150). The tiny details of the rivets bring him back to clarity. Similarly, the fly crawling across the ceiling of the hospital triggers his memory of the crash: “The sight of this fly, the suddenness of seeing this small black speck on a sea of grey, brushed the surface of his brain, and quickly, in that second, he remembered everything” (153).
Even when the sensory details that Peter observes turn out to contradict the reality presented to him by the hospital staff, their certainty is so overwhelming that Peter pays intense attention to them. He hears JU-88s flying over the hospital, one after another: “There was the same deep undulating bass and the high singing tenor and there was no mistaking it. He had heard that noise every day during the Battle” (155). Although he begins to doubt himself once the nurse dismisses his observations, the sound of the planes still plants a crucial seed of doubt in his mind, eventually leading to his climactic discovery of the truth.
Stream of Consciousness
Stream of consciousness is a narrative technique in which a character’s thoughts, perceptions, and emotions are presented in an unfiltered and fragmented manner, aiming to replicate the continuous flow of consciousness. In literary Modernism, this device gained prominence for its ability to capture the complexity and subjectivity of human thought.
“Beware of the Dog” utilizes stream of consciousness to delve into Peter’s mind, most notably as he struggles to navigate the plane after he has lost a leg. Peter is in shock from his injury as he attempts to convince himself that he is fine. Although he believes—or tries to believe—that he is in control, his stream of consciousness reveals him to be more vulnerable and out of control than he admits. He imagines downplaying his injury to his girlfriend, thinking about an imaginary conversation in which he reassures her that “I always hated walking, except when I walked down the street of the coppersmiths in Bagdad” (150). However, his thoughts wander as he reflects, “I could go home and chop wood, but the head always flies off the axe. Hot water, that’s what it needs; put it in the bath and make the handle swell” (150). The digression indicates that he is starting to lose focus and the severity of his injury is taking its toll.
Interior Monologue
Interior monologue is a literary device that directly presents a character’s thoughts, feelings, and inner experiences in a narrative. Interior monologue is often used alongside stream of consciousness to reveal a character’s reflections and desires. In literary Modernism, interior monologue became a valuable tool to explore human psychology and subjectivity. In “Beware of the Dog” this technique plays a significant role in highlighting Peter’s psychological journey as he confronts the truth.
Peter’s interior monologue exposes his doubts, fears, and conflicting emotions, creating tension and suspense. Toward the middle of the narrative, Peter begins to doubt his own mind, speculating, “Perhaps I am very ill […] Perhaps I am imagining things. Perhaps I am a little delirious” (156). However, eventually. this doubt is transformed to determination. He resolves to “do something [… and] find some way of proving to himself that he was either right or wrong” (159).
The story’s events center on Peter’s internal state, and through the device of interior monologue, the arc of the narrative is revealed. This technique transforms “Beware of the Dog” into a psychological exploration, capturing the subjective experience of war and the search for truth amidst deception and danger.
Pacing
Pacing dictates the speed and rhythm of a story. It shapes the arrangement of events, sentence structure, and manipulation of time to establish a specific tempo and atmosphere in the narrative. In “Beware of the Dog,” pacing plays a vital role in enhancing suspense, mystery, and thrill. The story begins in media res (in the midst of events) with a swift and action-packed opening scene, immersing readers in the immediacy of Peter’s situation. As the narrative progresses, the pacing shifts, slowing down during introspective and revelatory moments, allowing for a deeper exploration of Peter’s thoughts and emotions. This variation in pacing heightens suspense by juxtaposing intense action with quieter, reflective passages, keeping readers engaged and anticipating the revelation of truth alongside Peter. The alternating rhythm of fast and slow pacing generates unease, reflecting the psychological tension experienced by the protagonist.
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