MB UNIUD

THE DEAD, by James Joyce

1. What narrative technique is used in the text?
   Joyce uses a third person narrator who often adopts Gabriel Conroy's point of view through monologues and free indirect speech. But looking at the lay out the reader can easily understand that the main technique used in the text is the dialogue, that is a direct speech.
2. Why does the writer make extensive use of the monologue?
   The monologue is used because the writer wants to underline Gabriel's reflections and not the events. As a matter of fact through this device the main theme of the story is Gabriel analysis on his life and on death and not the party etc.
3. Does he use reported speech or direct speech and why?
   He uses the direct speech, because he wants simply to tell the story and the situation without giving judgements or opinions directly: the reader should have a personal position about the situation. Also free indirect speech is used in order to convey Gabriel's thoughts, reflections and lack of certainties.
4. The leitmotiv of the story is death: how is it expressed?
   It is expressed both through usually images and though unusual references. For example Gabriel thinks of his aunts' age and the possible consequences of their death: it is not only usual; it includes the most trivial meaning of death. When Gretta speaks of Michael Furey's death and when Gabriel analyses the behaviour of the snow the covers everybody, alive and dead, the theme has another connotation: the point is the quest is now the meaning of death and its necessary role in life. At the and Mr Conroy reflects also about the banality of his life, that is another kind of death.
5. The last paragraph of the short story is an example of epiphany. Which stylistic elements concur to convey Gabriel's revelation?
   VISUAL ELEMENTS: snow, the room, Gretta boots etc.
   WIDENING OF THE FOCUS from Gabriel's room to the whole of Ireland and to the world to the dead
   SENSATIONS: cold air etc.