NOTES OF 4TH DECEMBER 2019

(JULY 2014)

Answer the following questions:

1. What is the function of the section in the economy of the novel?
2. What is the main theme or what are the main themes?
3. What do you understand more about the two protagonists?
4. What stylistic devices does the narrator exploit?

SECTION: JULY 2014 is one of the novel’s chapter and it is very important in the economy of the novel

NARRATOR: 3^rd person one, use of telling and showing, she deals with both gender behaviors - there is the shift of point of view to add meaning to the function of the chapter

SETTING: Connell’s bedroom in one of the days of July 2014

TIME OF THE DAY: late afternoon and beginning of the evening

CHARACTERS: Connell and Marianne

WHAT IS HAPPENING: Connell is watching a football match on TV (Netherland vs. Costa Rica), while Marianne is bored and doing nothing

The section is very important for the whole novel because Connell and Marianne are trying to make a balance of their relationship and that is why they refer to the beginning and they ask themselves how they could carry on the relationship. They reconsider the first steps of their relationship when they were in High School and when they felt better.

The narrator sets this part inside Connell’s bedroom because it helps them to reconsider the past time of their relationship, since it is an inner one, which usually deals with something intimate and personal and since they spent a lot of time there. Therefore, since the two characters are inside Connell’s room, the indoor place helps them making considerations of their relationship, which is something intimate and personal. Connell and Marianne are talking about their relationship, how it is going on, making a comparison between how they felt in the past and how they feel now, taking into consideration what is changed from the past time.

Connell is involved in the match and therefore does not look at Marianne, who is bored of the football match on TV. Even if she is bored she does not go back home because she is looking for Connell’s attention which seems to be a fault because she is dependent from Connell’s impressions and feelings.

Marianne did not express explicitly her boredom, but Connell understand it, and, in the end, he puts off the TV. 

Also Connell wants to be at Marianne centre of attention indeed he asks her if it is necessary to bring up she at her home and then he puts off the light.

Marianne makes a question to Connell and she asks him with who is gone the last night to show her jealousy and also because she wants to know if he is really interested in their relationship. Connell reassuring her about her feelings and about her fears.

Page 225:

• references to when they went to school;

NARRATOR: third person narrator and he uses telling;

MEANING: to create a visive image to the reader 

RETHORICAL FIGURES: simile-> for Marianne Connell’s face is like her favorite song (to hear linked to music); alitote-> he reassures Marianne saying they don’t have to much in common

Marianne makes questions to Connell because she wants to be reassure. 

- “He looks back at the screen… each time she hears it”: Marianne is concentrated in Connell’s face;

- “His appearance is like a favorite piece of music to her, sounding a little different every time she hears at it.”: simile.

THE MOST DIFFICULT ASPECT OF A RELATIONSHIP:

- to say what you really think or to express your feelings and emotions.

• however people in relationships have to keep some hidden secrets to create suspense because if a person gives all of her/himself in a relationship, the person cannot recover from the relationship if it does not work. In addition, partners should keep some secret because people generally fall in love with a person they don’t know very well and if a person reveals everything, the relationship could become monotonous and boring. 

Moreover, a psychological study discovers that human beings fall in love with a person they are afraid of or don’t understand at all. Therefore, the mystery of a person brings another person to fall in love of that person.