The conflict of man verses nature is dramatised very effectively in 'The Shell.' A conflict in which man is always overpowered; there are endless circumstances that occur in every day life displaying the insignificance of man and the indifference of nature. "The man looked up too, gazing beyond the bird into the blue dome of distance beyond. The two of them were peering skywards...and then, quite suddenly the sea came and took them." The Shell gives an excellent example of this never ending conflict, portraying the sea as an unpredictable force. Full of power, and lying dormant, "The sea gives...the sea takes...and only the gulls know the whole story."

Thiele begins his narrative by giving an in depth description of the movement and appearance of the sea, permitting the reader to experience the magnificence and power that it holds. He uses a range of...