This study guide will help you analyse the short story “Dad, Can I Come Home?” (1990) by Malorie Blackman. We will show you examples of elements in the text that will be relevant for your analysis. In these notes, we will focus on summary, plot and structure, characterisation and themes.
Malorie Blackman is a British writer. Her first short story collection, “Not So Stupid!”, was published in 1990. The short story “Dad, Can I Come Home?” is part of that collection.
Excerpt from the study guide:
Composition
In order to make the story more appealing to the audience, Malorie Blackman uses several narrative techniques. Here are some of them:
Narrative hook/In media res
The story begins abruptly, in the middle of events. Actually, the story begins with a telephone conversation which stirs the readers’ curiosity. We do not know initially where Eve calls from or why her father asks her about her state:
““Dad? Dad! It’s Eve. How are you? What are you doing with yourself? Are you all right?”
“Eve? Eve darling, how are you? God, it’s good to hear your voice. Where are you? Why can’t I see you?”” (p. 84, ll. 1-3) ...
