Setting
The visual contrast between pre-war Poland and war-torn Poland would make the devastation wrought by the war feel more tangible and immediate. Similarly, the difference between Alina's world and Alice's modern setting in Florida underscores the historical distance between them, helping the reader to understand the disconnection Alice feels from her grandmother's past.
War
The stark difference between the peaceful sounds in Alina's pre-war life and the harsh, disruptive sounds of war would enhance the reader's understanding of the war's terror and disruption. Meanwhile, the commonplace, mundane sounds in Alice's world highlight her detachment from the harrowing experiences her grandmother endured.
Smell
The evocative smells and tastes of traditional food in Alina's pre-war life, contrasted with the acrid smoke and lack of food during the war, could make the hardships of the war feel more visceral to the reader. For Alice, sterile hospital smells emphasize her son's treatment's clinical, impersonal nature, amplifying her feelings of fear and helplessness.
Touch
By describing the physical sensations that Alina experiences, such as the discomfort of inadequate shelter or the rough texture of insufficient clothing during the war, the author makes Alina's hardships feel more immediate and real. In contrast, while not physically painful, Alice's emotional discomfort and stress can be equally as impactful.
