Boys Don't Cry: Writer's Methods and Techniques (WJEC Eduqas GCSE English Literature): Revision Note

Boys Don't Cry: writer’s methods and techniques

Malorie Blackman uses a range of literary techniques to develop ideas and explore the key themes in Boys Don’t Cry. In the exam, when you are asked to analyse the writer’s methods, focus on how Blackman’s choices shape characters, relationships, and the reader’s understanding of the issues presented in the novel.

This section analyses the use of:

• Dual narrative

• First-person narrative

• Colloquial language

• Symbolism

Dual narrative

Blackman presents the story through the eyes of both Dante and Adam, although mostly focusing on Dante. Out of the 50 chapters, 34 are from Dante’s perspective, with Adam’s chapters also generally much shorter than Dante’s. This allows Dante to carry the weight of the narrative, whilst Adam offers a different perspective and, sometimes, insight into just his personal story, rather than the wider story that focuses on Dante and Emma. 

• By splitting the narrative, we are shown events that directly impact the individual characters:

  • We see almost everything that Dante does within the story, and any gaps are jumps in time, not missing information

  • With Adam, we sometimes receive details that Dante would never know about, such as learning about his relationship with Josh long before Dante does

  • Doing this ensures the reader understands the full context of events, so that we understand some of Adam’s story by the time it intertwines with Dante’s

  • Had the author not done this, events like the assault on Adam would come without context:

    • This might not have the shock value that an attack seemingly out of nowhere would have, but helps the reader understand the wider social commentary and context of Adam and Josh’s journeys

• The dual narrative structure also offers the chance to see different views on the same subjects:

  • We know Adam’s feelings about the revelation that Dante is a father

  • We also get to see that what Dante believes about Adam’s memories of their mother is false

• Furthermore, the impact of Dante’s homophobia at home is given more depth:

  • We get to see the result of their conversation, rather than moving on and staying just with Dante’s perspective

  • By including Adam’s perspective, we get to see how Dante makes his brother feel

• In this way, the author can explore different themes through the contrasting experiences the boys share of the same events:

  • The themes of identity and responsibility look different through each lens, and can be explored more deeply

  • For example, we see Adam’s reaction and thoughts when Dante shows him love and support, which highlight the impact of these things

• The dual narrative also highlights aspects of unreliable narration:

  • Adam seems to see Dante and Tyler’s interactions differently to Dante, who is angrier with his father and seems to see himself as blameless

First-person narrative

Both Dante and Adam’s narration comes from a first-person perspective, so the reader gets to see their thoughts and opinions alongside their view of events, experiencing them as the character does, and without hindsight and false recall. 

• How the characters feel is the most important aspect of the novel, with the key themes of Boys Don’t Cry all emotional, and the story more character-driven than plot-driven:

  • The author likely made this choice so that the reader gets to know how Dante and Adam are feeling as their lives are changed by new responsibilities and the intolerance of others

  • It also helps the social messages land if the reader gets to see how the words and actions of others make Dante and Adam feel both in the moment and afterwards

• This type of narrative also emphasises the themes of identity and the personal growth of the characters:

  • Through this, we can see how their thinking changes over time, and why they make the decisions they do

• By showing the reader the inner thoughts of the characters, Malorie Blackman also gives the characters more depth:

  • The reader is given personal insight into their reactions, thoughts and feelings, making us more than just an observer of the story

Colloquial language

Colloquial language is informal and everyday language, such as the language people use in normal conversation, especially in relaxed conversation. It is more likely to have contractions, common expressions, informal language and things like slang, regional expressions and jargon. 

Almost all of the conversations in Boys Don’t Cry are between characters who have known each other for some time and are familiar with their vocabulary and personality. 

• By using colloquial language, the author makes the characters more authentic:

  • Boys Don’t Cry is primarily a book for a teenage audience, with the two leading characters teenage boys

  • As such, they would seem alien to the reader if they spoke too formally or in a way that didn’t match how teenagers generally speak, especially at the time

• This also means that the reader is being spoken to at their level:

  • With some important messages about morals and behaviour, it is important that the readers themselves feel represented, the language realistic, and readers do not feel patronised

• Dante uses casual, colloquial language in conversation and his internal monologue, with examples like “mate” and “innit”:

  • The meaning of sentences with these terms would not change without them, but makes his language authentic

  • Equally, by being more realistic, the reader’s immersion isn’t broken and they can stay engaged with the text

Symbolism

When an author uses symbolism in their work, they are looking to make an object, place or image represent a deeper idea and have meaning beyond its literal function. This technique can be used to highlight a theme or express a complex idea indirectly.

• In Boys Don’t Cry, Emma represents more than just a child:

  • To begin with, she represents burden to Dante

• However, the author seems to use Emma to represent change, responsibility and love:

  • An unplanned baby is something many would fear, and they may not look at the positives for a long time

  • Emma’s role in the novel is more than just a plot point, as she also represents how change can be healthy

• She also symbolises how people can be much more than they realise:

  • Dante doesn’t see himself as a father, but by the end it is all he wants and he has become something completely different to what he expected

• As Emma grows, so do the family:

  • As she starts to show more love, with hugs and kisses, the family begin to show more love to each other

  • As Emma begins to talk, the family start to improve the way they talk to each other

Sources

Blackman, M. (2010). Boys Don’t Cry. Random House.