Text Analysis and History Session Three: Point of View.

Text Analysis and Text Analysis and HistoryHistory

Session Three: Point of ViewSession Three: Point of View

AgendaAgenda

Repair Work: story, plot, character, and Repair Work: story, plot, character, and characterizationcharacterization

Point of viewPoint of view Group work: Point of view in ”The Day Group work: Point of view in ”The Day

They Burned the Books” and ”The Moment They Burned the Books” and ”The Moment Before the Gun Went Off”Before the Gun Went Off”

Repair WorkRepair Work

Story and plotStory and plot Character and characterizationCharacter and characterization

42. WILLIAM J. CLINTON 1993-200142. WILLIAM J. CLINTON 1993-2001http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/williamjclihttp://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/williamjcli

nton/nton/

President Clinton was born William Jefferson President Clinton was born William Jefferson Blythe III on August 19, 1946, in Hope, Blythe III on August 19, 1946, in Hope, Arkansas, three months after his father died in a Arkansas, three months after his father died in a traffic accident. […] He excelled as a student traffic accident. […] He excelled as a student and as a saxophone player and once considered and as a saxophone player and once considered becoming a professional musician. As a becoming a professional musician. As a delegate to Boys Nation while in high school, he delegate to Boys Nation while in high school, he met President John Kennedy in the White House met President John Kennedy in the White House Rose Garden. The encounter led him to enter a Rose Garden. The encounter led him to enter a life of public service.life of public service.

Graham Greene, ”I Spy”Graham Greene, ”I Spy”

””Charlie Stowe waited until he heard his Charlie Stowe waited until he heard his mother snore before he got out of bed. mother snore before he got out of bed. Even then he moved with caution and Even then he moved with caution and tiptoed to the window.” (534)tiptoed to the window.” (534)

Story - plotStory - plot

Non-fiction:Non-fiction: StoryStory

PlotPlot

CharacterCharacter

CharacterizationCharacterization

Fiction:Fiction: StoryStory

PlotPlot

CharacterCharacter

CharacterizationCharacterization

An introduction to point of viewAn introduction to point of view

What do we study when we study point of What do we study when we study point of view?view? Whose ”version(s)” of events are we presented Whose ”version(s)” of events are we presented

with?with? Why has the author decided to present us with Why has the author decided to present us with

that particular version?that particular version? How does he persuade us and about what by How does he persuade us and about what by

designing the point of view in a particular designing the point of view in a particular manner?manner?

The creation of sympathy and antipathyThe creation of sympathy and antipathy


Some competing terms (metaphors and Some competing terms (metaphors and analogies):analogies): Point of viewPoint of view PerspectivePerspective VoiceVoice ToneTone


First person points of First person points of viewview

Third person points of Third person points of viewview

(The second person point of view)(The second person point of view)

"You are not the kind of guy who would be at a place "You are not the kind of guy who would be at a place like this at this time of the morning. But here you are, like this at this time of the morning. But here you are, and you cannot say the terrain is entirely unfamiliar, and you cannot say the terrain is entirely unfamiliar, although the details are fuzzy. You are at a nightclub although the details are fuzzy. You are at a nightclub talking to a girl with a shaved head. The club is either talking to a girl with a shaved head. The club is either Heartbreak or the Lizard Lounge. All might become Heartbreak or the Lizard Lounge. All might become clear if you could just slip into the bathroom and do a clear if you could just slip into the bathroom and do a little more Bolivian Marching Powder. Then again, it little more Bolivian Marching Powder. Then again, it might not. A small voice inside you insists that this might not. A small voice inside you insists that this epidemic lack of clarity is a result of too much of that epidemic lack of clarity is a result of too much of that already." already."

Jay McInerney, Jay McInerney, Bright Lights, Big City Bright Lights, Big City (1984)(1984)

First person points of viewFirst person points of view

Witness or minor participant, narrator-Witness or minor participant, narrator-character: e.g., Dr Watsoncharacter: e.g., Dr Watson

Central character, narrator-protagonist: Central character, narrator-protagonist: e.g., e.g., Robinson Crusoe, Bridget Jones’s Robinson Crusoe, Bridget Jones’s DiaryDiary,, ”The 24-Hour Dog””The 24-Hour Dog”

The self-conscious narratorThe self-conscious narrator The unreliable narratorThe unreliable narrator

The first person splitThe first person split

Narrator:Narrator: Speaks Speaks The present: the time The present: the time

of the narrationof the narration

Protagonist/ Protagonist/ character:character:

ActsActs The past: the time of The past: the time of

the actionthe action

Charles Dickens, Charles Dickens, Great Great ExpectationsExpectations

My father's family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my My father's family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip. So, I called myself Pip, and came to be called Pip. Pip. So, I called myself Pip, and came to be called Pip.

I give Pirrip as my father's family name, on the authority of his tombstone I give Pirrip as my father's family name, on the authority of his tombstone and my sister - Mrs. Joe Gargery, who married the blacksmith. As I never and my sister - Mrs. Joe Gargery, who married the blacksmith. As I never saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them saw my father or my mother, and never saw any likeness of either of them (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies (for their days were long before the days of photographs), my first fancies regarding what they were like, were unreasonably derived from their regarding what they were like, were unreasonably derived from their tombstones. The shape of the letters on my father's, gave me an odd idea tombstones. The shape of the letters on my father's, gave me an odd idea that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair. From the that he was a square, stout, dark man, with curly black hair. From the character and turn of the inscription, "Also Georgiana Wife of the Above," I character and turn of the inscription, "Also Georgiana Wife of the Above," I drew a childish conclusion that my mother was freckled and sickly. To five drew a childish conclusion that my mother was freckled and sickly. To five little stone lozenges, each about a foot and a half long, which were arranged little stone lozenges, each about a foot and a half long, which were arranged in a neat row beside their grave, and were sacred to the memory of five little in a neat row beside their grave, and were sacred to the memory of five little brothers of mine - who gave up trying to get a living, exceedingly early in brothers of mine - who gave up trying to get a living, exceedingly early in that universal struggle - I am indebted for a belief I religiously entertained that universal struggle - I am indebted for a belief I religiously entertained that they had all been born on their backs with their hands in their trousers-that they had all been born on their backs with their hands in their trousers-pockets, and had never taken them out in this state of existence. (Chapter pockets, and had never taken them out in this state of existence. (Chapter One)One)

Unreliable narration: An exampleUnreliable narration: An example

Sunday 19 MarchSunday 19 March8st 12, alchohol units 3, cigarettes 10, calories 2465 (but mainly 8st 12, alchohol units 3, cigarettes 10, calories 2465 (but mainly

chocolate).chocolate).

Hurray. Whole new positive perspective on Hurray. Whole new positive perspective on birthday. Have been talking to Jude about birthday. Have been talking to Jude about book she has been reading about festivals book she has been reading about festivals and rites of passage in primitive cultures and rites of passage in primitive cultures and am feeling happy and serene. (Helen and am feeling happy and serene. (Helen Fielding, Fielding, Bridget Jones’s DiaryBridget Jones’s Diary, p. 81), p. 81)

Unreliable narration: An exampleUnreliable narration: An example

"It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my "It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night. brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night. Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye! yes, it was this! One of his eyes resembled was his eye! yes, it was this! One of his eyes resembled that of a vulture--a pale blue eye, with a film over it. that of a vulture--a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees--very gradually--I made up my mind to take the degrees--very gradually--I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye for life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye for ever." ever."

-Edgar Allan Poe, "The Tell-Tale Heart" -Edgar Allan Poe, "The Tell-Tale Heart"

Self-conscious narration: An ExampleSelf-conscious narration: An Example

Digressions, incontestably, are the sun- Digressions, incontestably, are the sun- shine ; ---- they are the life, the soul of shine ; ---- they are the life, the soul of reading ; -- take them out of this book reading ; -- take them out of this book for instance, -- you might as well take the for instance, -- you might as well take the book along with them; -- one cold eternal book along with them; -- one cold eternal winter would reign in every page of it ; winter would reign in every page of it ; restore them to the writer ; ---- he steps restore them to the writer ; ---- he steps forth like a bridegroom, -- bids All hail ; forth like a bridegroom, -- bids All hail ; brings in variety, and forbids the appe- brings in variety, and forbids the appe- tite to fail.tite to fail.

(Lawrence Sterne, (Lawrence Sterne, The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman. Gentleman. Vol I, p. 163Vol I, p. 163 (1759))(1759))

The third person points of viewThe third person points of view

The omniscient point The omniscient point of viewof view

The limited point of The limited point of viewview

The third person omniscient point The third person omniscient point of viewof view

The intrusive point of The intrusive point of viewview

””telling”telling” The narrator The narrator

commentscomments and and evaluatesevaluates on events on events in his own voicein his own voice

The unintrusive point The unintrusive point of viewof view

””showing”showing” The narrator The narrator

describesdescribes and and reportsreports objectivelyobjectively

The third person limited point of The third person limited point of viewview

The narrator limits himself to what is The narrator limits himself to what is thought, felt, perceived, and rememberedthought, felt, perceived, and remembered by a single character by a single character

An example:An example:

Mr Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, Mr Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice, that the sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three and twenty years had been experience of three and twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his insufficient to make his wife understand his character. character. HerHer mind was less difficult to develop. mind was less difficult to develop. She was a woman of mean understanding, little She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was information, and uncertain temper. When she was disconcerted she fancied herself nervous. The disconcerted she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her daughters business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news.” (Jane married; its solace was visiting and news.” (Jane Austen, Austen, Pride and PrejudicePride and Prejudice, p. 53), p. 53)

An Example:An Example:

””He did not complain. It was the way of life, and it He did not complain. It was the way of life, and it was just. He had been born close to the earth, was just. He had been born close to the earth, close to the earth had he lived, and the law close to the earth had he lived, and the law thereof was not new to him. It was the law of all thereof was not new to him. It was the law of all flesh. Nature was not kindly to the flesh. She had flesh. Nature was not kindly to the flesh. She had no concern for that conctrete thing called the no concern for that conctrete thing called the individual. Her interest lay in the species, the race. individual. Her interest lay in the species, the race. This was the deepest abstraction old Koskoosh’s This was the deepest abstraction old Koskoosh’s babaric mind was capable of, but he grasped it babaric mind was capable of, but he grasped it firmly. He saw it exemplified in all life.” (Jack firmly. He saw it exemplified in all life.” (Jack London, ”The Law of Life”, p. 973-74)London, ”The Law of Life”, p. 973-74)

An example: An example:

””Mrs Tulliver was what is called a good-Mrs Tulliver was what is called a good-tempered person – never cried when she was a tempered person – never cried when she was a baby, on any slighter ground than hunger and baby, on any slighter ground than hunger and pins; and from the cradle upwards had been pins; and from the cradle upwards had been healthy, fair, plump, and dull witted; in short the healthy, fair, plump, and dull witted; in short the flower of her family for beauty and amiability. But flower of her family for beauty and amiability. But milk and mildness are not the best things for milk and mildness are not the best things for keeping, and when they turn only a little sour, keeping, and when they turn only a little sour, they may disagree with young stomachs they may disagree with young stomachs seriously.” (George Eliot, seriously.” (George Eliot, The Mill on the FlossThe Mill on the Floss))

An Example:An Example:

Charlie Stove waited until he heard his mother snore Charlie Stove waited until he heard his mother snore before he got out of bed. Even then he moved with before he got out of bed. Even then he moved with caution and tiptoed to the window. The front of the caution and tiptoed to the window. The front of the house was irregular, so that it was possible to see a house was irregular, so that it was possible to see a light burning in his mother’s room. But now all the light burning in his mother’s room. But now all the windows were dark. A search-light passed across the windows were dark. A search-light passed across the sky, lighting the banks of cloud and probing the dark sky, lighting the banks of cloud and probing the dark deep spaces between, seeking enemy airships. The deep spaces between, seeking enemy airships. The wind blew from the sea, and Charlie Stowe could wind blew from the sea, and Charlie Stowe could hear behind his mother’s snores the beating of the hear behind his mother’s snores the beating of the waves. A draught through the crack in the window-waves. A draught through the crack in the window-frame stirred his night-shirt. Charlie Stowe was frame stirred his night-shirt. Charlie Stowe was frightened.(Graham Greene, ”I Spy”, p. 534)frightened.(Graham Greene, ”I Spy”, p. 534)

An ExampleAn Example

When the door had closed Charlie Stowe tiptoed When the door had closed Charlie Stowe tiptoed upstairs and got into bed. He wondered why his father upstairs and got into bed. He wondered why his father had left the house again so late at night and who the had left the house again so late at night and who the strangers were. Surprise and awe kept him for a little strangers were. Surprise and awe kept him for a little while awake. It was as if a familiar photograph had while awake. It was as if a familiar photograph had stepped from the frame to reproach him with neglect. stepped from the frame to reproach him with neglect. He remembered how his father had held tight to his He remembered how his father had held tight to his collar and fortified himself with proverbs, and he collar and fortified himself with proverbs, and he thought for the first time that, while his mother was thought for the first time that, while his mother was boisterous and kindly, his father was very lilke himself, boisterous and kindly, his father was very lilke himself, doing things in the dark which frightened him.” doing things in the dark which frightened him.” (Graham Green, ”I Spy”, p. 537)(Graham Green, ”I Spy”, p. 537)

Jean Rhys, ”The Day They Burned Jean Rhys, ”The Day They Burned the Books”the Books”

The first person point of viewThe first person point of view The first person split: The time of the The first person split: The time of the

action / the time of the narrationaction / the time of the narration Minor participant or central character / Minor participant or central character /

protagonist?protagonist? The narrator’s and/or the character’s / The narrator’s and/or the character’s /

protagonist’s point of view.protagonist’s point of view. The thematic function of the point of viewThe thematic function of the point of view

Nadine Gordimer, ”The Moment Nadine Gordimer, ”The Moment Before the Gun Went Off”Before the Gun Went Off”

The third person point of view.The third person point of view. How many points of view are we How many points of view are we

presented with?presented with? Why?Why? How does the point of view produce How does the point of view produce

sympathy or antipathy?sympathy or antipathy?

Text Analysis and History Session Three: Point of View.

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