A close study of style, perspective, tense and privet, including a reader reaction to the last sentence on pages 56 and 57 in "Spies" by Michael Frayn

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A close study of style, perspective, tense and privet, including a reader reaction to the last sentence on pages 56 and 57 in “Spies” by Michael Frayn

        “Spies” by Michael Frayn is a very effective and well written novel.  Frayn incorporates a variety of techniques and methods in the story making it not only well crafted, but also successful.  This can be seen not only throughout the novel as a whole, but particularly so over pages fifty-six and fifty seven (part of chapter three).

        Looking mainly at Frayn’s writing style, as we have already seen, he mostly sticks to using the narrator as a tool to describe events that are happening in the novel.  There are, of course, times when Frayn uses direct speech to describe any occurrences.  Over these two pages, there is a substantial decrease in reported speech, and an increase in direct speech between both Keith and Stephen.  The use of direct speech here gives the narrative an ‘edge’: “we’ll do it after school / what about when it’s tea or supper? / we can take turns.”  It creates the impression to the reader that they’re actually hearing the conversation take place, whilst simultaneously giving it a more rushed, realistic tone.  

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Over only one page, Frayn uses the ellipsis tool (…) a total of four times.  This is a clever tool to use when a writer wants to represent his or her characters are trailing off into imagination, wondering “what if” scenarios, or sometimes to keep the reader in suspense, not revealing a crucial piece of information.  Frayn uses the ellipsis to both ends.  Firstly, the narrator describes a journey in his mind: “through the bushes above the quarries – out onto the open fairway …”.  This represents a journey with the narrator trailing off into imagination and memories.  Frayn ...

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