Abstract: The short story The Dark, the Light written by Australian writer, Helen Garner, is found to be a literary discourse with many potential meanings thoroughly and subtly realized by means of the multi-functions of discourse such as the transitivity of verbs, which is a major focus of this study. The studies is carried out with an effort, and also a purpose, to integrate literary critical theories and discourse analysis so that both approaches will prove and support each other for a more comprehensive and objective understanding of literary works.