Henry 9

The text under analysis is taken from Ray Bradbury’s book “Henry 9”. Ray Douglas Bradbury (August 22, 1920 – June 5, 2012) was an American fantasy, science fiction,horror and mystery fiction writer. Best known for his dystopian novelFahrenheit 451 (1953) and for the science fiction and horror stories gathered together as The Martian Chronicles (1950) and The Illustrated Man (1951), Bradbury was one of the most celebrated 20th-century American writers. Many of Bradbury's works have been adapted into comic books, television shows and films.

The extract is written in a descriptive way. The extract depicts the situation, which will probably take place in the future, where all English people leave their country for America or some other countries where it’s not as cold as in England. The main character’s name is Henry and there is also his friend Sam who is trying to persuade Henry to leave the country with him. But Henry is a patriot and nothing can change his mind. Even his best friend can’t. The whole extract shows the emotional condition of both characters and how they are trying to prove their opinion of leaving England or staying.  
Now let’s get to the stylistic devices and see how they help us to understand why the author called the story “Henry 9”. In the beginning of the extract Henry says – will every damn stupid idiot fool clear off the Isle?” We see his anger about the situation that is going on. The author uses strings epithet to emphasize the inward condition of the main character. And metaphor   “clear off”, also to emphasize the feeling of Henry’s frustration. He is really pissed off and he can’t control the situation. He probably doesn’t want people to leave the country, but he is mad at them because they are not as patriotic as him. Everything continues with another Henry’s monolog: “ Couldn’t you guess I would want to be the last man in all Britain, no, that hasn’t   the proper sound, Great Britain? It is the great bell of London heard through all...