Enduring love analysing chapter 1.

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English Literature. Enduring Love Analysing Chapter 1.

Ian McEwan begins this novel with a very eventful chapter. Chapter 1 sets the scene for the rest of this book. The novel begins with the narrator and his girlfriend (Clarrisa) in a field. Then danger emerges out of nowhere and the narrator finds himself trying to secure and bring down a balloon that has a child entrapped in it. However the situation ends in disaster as the Balloon proves to heavy for the crew of 5 to pull down. They all let go except one John Logan who goes up with the uncontrollable balloon and dangles from the ropes in mid air until he let go and accelerated towards the floor, no forgiveness or kindness just ruthless gravity.

The book instantly hooks readers; McEwans first sentence instantly makes you brain work. ' The beginning is simple to mark.' What beginning? As you read deeper into the first chapter you begin to realise that the narrator is very descriptive of everything beside himself. After reading the first chapter you are left with a number of different questions in your head. Who is the narrator? McEwan is very effective with the way he writes this first chapter, he creates suspense that entices you to read on.
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The narrative viewpoint is very interesting during chapter 1. We don't know anything about this man except he has a girlfriend called Clarissa, he is very scientifically and mathematically minded and that he is very descriptive of everybody and everything. However as the reader there is a feeling of detachment, as you know nothing personal about this man. Yet we are given in depth descriptions of Jed Parry, Joseph Lacey, Toby Greene and John Logan. However one of those characters is particularly important in the unfolding of the novel. The other character mentioned in the chapter is Clarissa, ...

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