Night Watch By Terry Pratchett Analysis

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The novel “Night Watch” by Terry Pratchett has a unique tone and use of words. “Night
Watch” is a fantasy story, although it is a work of fiction different from most in it’s genre.
Pratchett’s diction and laid-back tone sets it apart, and creates an interesting read.
The tone is fairly informal, although not overly so. The character’s dialogues reflect the informal language used, and acts to give it a more believable feel, even though the events of the book are set in another world. The words chosen help ground the story at least somewhat, so that the world and setting that the characters are set in is a convincing place that is easy to imagine and visualize within the reader’s mind. For example, the story revolves around a character who is the commander of a police force, the city watch, therefore some of the story takes place surrounding police and the world around them. There is also a community of wizards who are portrayed as, although magical, as sorts of scientists and researchers. The way that the characters interact with each other within their respective groups, and with other types of people, helps set the tone and the culture of the world in this novel. “‘It’s a copper thing….You get tough.’ ‘What d’you mean tough?’ said Corporal Nobbs… ‘We-ell… he knows the world is never going to be perfect.’” (Pratchett, 6) This piece of dialogue helps introduce and establish the informality of the language used by most characters, and the culture within the watchmen and how

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