The Cone Gatherers

Style

The author, Robin Jenkins, employs a variety of stylistic techniques in the novel.
Jenkins frequently changes the narrative point of view (POV) throughout the story. Readers experience the perspectives of different characters, including Duror, Neil, and others.
The shifting POV allows readers to empathise with the characters and gain a deeper understanding of their motivations.
An example from Chapter One illustrates how Jenkins uses the narrative to delve into Duror's thoughts as he observes the cone-gatherers, vividly imagining their lives and actions.
The repetition of "they" highlights Duror's detachment from the cone-gatherers and his growing sense of isolation and envy.
The word "dwarf" and the description of Calum carving an animal symbolise Duror's repulsion for Calum, demonstrating that the narrative is not neutral but influenced by Duror's emotions.

The novel follows a cyclical narrative structure, beginning and ending in the woodland setting by the loch. This circular structure reinforces the novel's themes and symbolisms.
The presence of the destroyer at the beginning and its return at the end serves as a link to the ongoing World War Two, symbolising the potential for change.
Echoes from the start of the novel are revisited at the end, underlining the cyclical nature of the narrative.
Calum, initially in a tree, is depicted as rising upward, becoming a source of salvation at the end.

diagram

Duror's transformation into an "infinite desolation" culminates in his suicide, and Lady Runcie-Campbell, who granted the cone-gatherers permission to enter the woods, ends the novel by kneeling before them. This suggests an element of change and resolution.

The killing of the deer serves as a significant symbol, highlighting Calum's identification with the deer as a victim.
Calum's connection with the deer portrays his innocence, and the brutal death of the deer foreshadows Calum's tragic fate.
The symbolism of the doll found in the beach hut represents the destruction of innocence. Calum's desire to mend the doll reflects his longing to help but also marks him as an outsider in society.
Duror exploits the doll as a symbol to pollute the adult world with his lies.
Calum's Christ-like status becomes evident in his death, as it is implied that his fate is to be destroyed by Duror.
Calum's death is not without optimism, as it coincides with the announcement of Roderick's safety. The association between cones and Calum's blood suggests the potential for new growth and a fresh start.
Lady Runcie-Campbell's act of kneeling near the blood and split cones symbolises the possibility of atonement and a new world emerging.

Imagery is used throughout the novel to vividly describe characters and scenes.
For instance, Calum is compared to various animals, and Peggy is depicted in detail.
Duror is likened to different predators, such as a tiger and a spider.
The recurring image of a tree symbolises Duror's deteriorating sanity and mirrors his descent into madness.
The tree image is employed to illustrate the stages of Duror's mental decline, from the tree of revulsion growing within him to becoming the tree himself, with his hatred acting as an alternative life force.

The author invites readers to pay close attention to the language used and its impact on the style.
Elements such as word choice, imagery, sentence structure, tone, contrast, symbolism, and point of view all reveal key aspects related to character, theme, and setting within the novel.
Readers should particularly focus on key incidents and moments where character motivations are displayed or themes are further developed through the stylistic choices made by the author.