What are the motifs in The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx?

I think use of language is a constant motif in the book. The language used by the author in this story is at times simple and at other times very literary, with extensive poetic and descriptive language. The dialogue used is simplistic and seems to be very true to the characterizations of the simple lives of Quoyle and the other characters. Often the language used in telling the story sounds as if one of the Newfoundlanders is telling the story in its straight forward, stripped down language.

At other times, the language is very descriptive and poetic, which harkens to the author's voice