OBJECTIVE

Answer the question concerning narrative technique in Sun and Moon by Katherine Mansfield

 

GROUP MEMBERS

Francesca Fiorin

Paola Rossi

 

REPORTER

Silvia Santellani

 

 

Focus on the narrator

 

  1. Is the narrator who describes the scene a character in the story or a voice outside it?

The narrator is a voice outside the story.

The one who speaks is a non-omniscient narrator because he tells the story from a limited perspective and looks at the events from the point of view on one or more character.

 

  1. Is the point of view in the scene a neutral one or does it coincide with that of one or more characters? Substantiate your answer with evidence from the text.

The main point of view is Sun’s . The narrator adopts the technique of telling (ex…much-too-long-and-tight-under-the-arms…)

The writer shows also other points of view using the direct speech and the technique of showing (ex…Moon thought they were hats…)

 

 

  1. What effect does the choice of a limited point of view create for a reader?

·         It leaves the reader more free to judge the events of the story.

·         It creates a double perspective for the reader from which to judge events.

·         It shows the reader events from a child’s perspective.

·         It allows the narrator to make her point by compelling the reader to see events from her/his point of view.

·         Other (specify)

 

The first time you read the text you see the events from the point of view of the narrator. It’s easier to identify with Sun. Second reading brings different points of view to surface so that the reader can understand what is really going on in the story.

 

POSSIBLE INTERPRETATION

The reader can make up an idea of what happens and go on reading  if he can understand the textual clues. He can infer that the story may take place in an aristocratic family before a concert.

Two children are watching the events, Sun seems  older than Moon.

The children watch what is going on in the world of adults, in the kitchen and in the dining-room, but they don’t seem to understand much of what is going on.

The world of adults seems meaningless, frightening but also fascinating. As a result, while Moon seems to enjoy what is going on, Sun doesn’t. The two children have in fact two different characters.

The choice of an unlimited point of view allows the narrator to make her point by compelling the reader to get involved into the children’s reaction.

This kind of narrative technique is modern: in modernity writers very rearly use an omniscient perspective.

The writer selected a restricted point of view from which to relate facts and events in order to achieve particular effects.