ABSTRACT
Context, Style, and Language: (For context see notes to No. 4). In comparison with variants of this story by other tellers in this collection this is a notably
smooth performance with none of the hesitation and confusion characteristic of several other versions. There are a few pauses in the opening sentences until the narrator gets into his stride but the rest of the story is told in exemplary fashion and with the skill and verve typical of Freeman Bennett. Individual words are highlighted by strong stress, the narrative includes the familiar short sentences, often elliptical, which give the impression of pace and forward movement, e.g., Went down, So away he goes. The Irish context is underlined by no fewer than ten occurrences of the asseveration begobs, contrasting with this teller's usual begar and by god. Note also the use of the masculine pronoun he with reference to the moon, the present tense you thinks and the past participle agot.
