What do you find significant about the strategies Hosseini uses in the opening chapter of "The Kite Runner"?
What do you find significant about the strategies Hosseini uses in the opening chapter of the kite runner? In the opening chapter of the kite runner Hosseini uses many different narrative techniques to entice the reader. For a start, the book begins in first person, with a paragraph about what Amir saw when he was twelve years old. The reader is left wondering as to what it was he saw enticing them already. "I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty six years". Hosseini also describes clear differences in setting between the present America and the past Kabul by using contrasting settings such as 'summer' and 'winter', 'sparkling lake' and 'frozen creek' and 'Golden Gate Park' and 'deserted alley' with a 'crumbling mud wall'. These words suggest a big contrast between the two countries and also implies that Amir as come far in life to be living in such a nicer place. In addition to this, he mentions places like 'Golden Gate Park' and 'Kabul' casually as if the reader knows the places already, making them feel as though they are more a part of the story. The metaphor about the past and how it 'claws its way out' provides imagery and intrigues the reader, making them wonder about what Amir saw that day. The author slips into past tense when giving in-depth details of the story, providing a sort of flashback effect: 'and suddenly Hassan's voice
Hanna and Micheal's attitudes to their relationship in part one of the reader
Contrast Hanna and Michael's attitudes to their relationship with each other In Part one of The Reader, the attitudes of Michael and Hanna to their relationship are constantly changing as Hanna becomes frantic and has moments of irrational temper. Hanna mentally dominates Michael, however this does not prevent him from falling in love with her; unfortunately, this emotional attachment is not reciprocated. From the outset Hanna shows she is not interested in having an emotional and loving relationship with Michael. She takes no notice of his 'facts' or personal details- his age or even wanting to know his name 'My name was on the front of my books.... But she hadn't paid any attention.' However, it can be argued that Hanna cares deeply for Michael despite it not being as apparently displayed. When she finds out that Michael priorities do not include his school work, she is infuriated and throws him out of bed; telling him that the work she does is 'idiotic' and forces him to place a greater emphasis on his work by threatening to stop seeing him. She does not want him to end up in the same employment circumstances as hers and in doing so forces Michael to surpass his expectations. This can be seen as an even greater symbol of love than simply speaking the words, despite Michael being ignorant to this at the time. Occasionally, Hanna behaves in a very cold and callous
Save as Many as You Ruin. Water is a symbol which reappears over and over in this short story. It could seem like water is connected to memories or to the past. In the very end Gerard feels as if someone has poured cold water down his neck
Save as Many as You Ruin Every once in a while, people make life-changing mistakes; mistakes that can seem irreversible and absolutely fatal to your life. But in some cases, fate might just reach out and bless them with another chance. These are the cases where the involved can live through a religious experience and have the opportunity to save what they've previously ruined. Gerard is a handsome man from New York, who is approximately 40 years old. The turning point in the story is when Gerard meets Laurel coincidently after he sees her through a shop window. Gerard and Laurel are former partners, but the relationship ended when Gerard had to proclaim that he had made another woman pregnant while they were still dating. Gerard has Lucy with Issy, and after Issy moves to Los Angeles to fulfill her dreams about being a Hollywood actress, Gerard takes the responsibility of raising Lucy on his own. Four years after Issy went to Los Angeles she was found dead in a pool, possibly after a suicide as she had taken her time to write Gerard's name as her next of kin. Gerard lives what could be conceived as a boring and regrettable life, with the exception of his daughter; Lucy. Lucy is Gerard's light of the day. "Gerard feels a stabbing love for his daughter" [l.18], "She's wonderful, just wonderful" [l.78], "I love you" [l.165]; in this short story we're constantly reminded of
How do Paulas early experiences shape the way she develops as a person?
How do Paula's early experiences shape the way she develops as a person? The Woman Who Walked into Doors by Roddy Doyle is a novel that tells the struggle of an abused woman called Paula Spencer, narrated by the victim as she tries to make sense of her past. The title comes from an incident when her husband asks her how she received the injury which he was responsible for. The narration describes her childhood, first meeting with Charlo and their marriage as Paula looks back upon her life. Readers are able to see how these events shaped the way Paula's negatives experiences are responsible to how she views herself as an adult. At first, Paula is presented as a skittish and frightened character because mundane things such as a door bell make her feels "terrified". Doyle is preparing and creating expectation for the readers for Paula's traumatic past experiences because at this stage of the novel they are still unaware of her problems. The bell is the signal for the news of the death of Charlo, Paula's husband. However, the fact that Paula was afraid of the door bell suggests that she associates it with bad experiences. It also serves as a hyperbole, as it "lifted me off the floor" suggests that Paula is frightened of visitors due to her past experiences. This caused the reader to wonders what has caused Paula to become so skittish and frightened. Doyle soon provides the answer
"Spies" analysis. The narrator presents the boys as being inexperienced and childish in order to put emphasis on their obliviousness.
The narrator presents the boys as being inexperienced and childish in order to put emphasis on their obliviousness. 'He's done it before, with the murders committed by Mr. Gort, for instance, and the building of the transcontinental railway, or the underground passage between our two houses.' The narrator uses bombastic language in order to accentuate their innocence and naivety. This is evident of their foolhardiness, as the two boys are constantly partaking in their own childhood adventures without contemplating the possible ramifications. It is blatantly exaggerated and puts emphasis on Keith's manipulative and domineering nature, as Stephen seems to play along with him. Moreover, these are antecedent events which further accentuate their obliviousness, as they are unaware of what they are up against. Therefore, the narrator presents them as such in order to emphasise the fact that they are out of their depth. The narrator presents Stephen as misled in order to emphasise his obliviousness. 'I understand now that it will involve frightening difficulties and wrenching conflicts of loyalty. I have a profound intimation of the solemnity and sadness of things.' The narrator uses war connotations, such as 'wrenching conflicts of loyalty', in order to put emphasis on the gravity of their situation. This is a microcosm, in which Keith and Stephen's world is perceived as
Analyse how Frayn presents relationships between adults and children in Spies
Analyse how Frayn presents relationships between adults and children in 'Spies' A central theme of 'Spies' is the gulf between children and adults that is difficult, if not impossible, to bridge. Looking back, the adult finds it hard to imagine what it was like to be a child. Ironically, to demonstrate this great gulf between mature and immature self, Frayn is accomplishing exactly what Older Stephen claims is impossible-he is recalling and recreating how it feels to be a child. He captures the naivety of childhood, and the strange mix of knowingness and ignorance that characterised children of the Second World War period in England. Stephen has knowledge in Latin, complex maths, the exports of Canada -but is horrified to think that his teenage brother might kiss a girl, or that a woman like Mrs. Berrill whose husband is away for a long time might take a lover. He accepts Keith's tales of a wild-ape man, a serial murderer and that they can build a railway and communications system all with unquestioning boyhood enthusiasm. Yet there is a lot about the child's state of mind that is lost to the adult. The narrator asks rhetorical questions repeatedly about how much the child knew, whether he noticed the inconsistencies and anomalies in the stories he was accepting and taking part in-'So how much did Stephen understand at this point about what was going on' (pg 137) and
How does Haddon use colour to the tell story in Curious Incident of the dog in the night-time
Describe how Haddon uses colour to tell the story in the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time The curious incident of the dog in the nighttime, tells the story through the perspective of Christopher, a character with Asperger's syndrome. Part of Christopher's condition is that he does not understand linguistic techniques such as a metaphors; he does not understand the emotional connotations behind descriptions that you would find in texts such as poetry. Thus through his narrative you would expect the story to be simple descriptions with no symbolism. However the use of colour, does create a mood, which the reader can interpret even if Christopher does not when he reports what he has seen. For example at the beginning of the story, Christopher opens with describing when he found the dead dog. He describes the dog as being" pale yellow like chicken". Whilst Christopher is merely making a comparison between the colour of the dog and the chicken, Haddon cleverly creates a mood. The reader would be able to associate yellow with disease. Thus through use of colour Haddon creates imagery, which the reader can interpret, but which also Christopher can report as it is factual unlike a metaphor. The descriptions of colour not only create a mood throughout the story but also allow us to form some sort of judgement or have insight in to the other characters. For example
Discuss how understanding the relationship between Brenda and Tony Last in a Handful of Dust is furthered by the reading of a Room with a View
Discuss how understanding the relationship between Brenda and Tony Last in a Handful of Dust is furthered by the reading of a Room with a View It is clear from the start that Tony and Brenda's relationship is doomed. Brenda, a former socialite, is completely and utterly bored with her monotonous relationship, and completely and utterly bored with her equally monotonous husband, and this is best conveyed in Waugh's depiction of the couple's breakfast routine. Waugh seems to have the ambition of emphasizing his skepticism for relationships, and does so by writing the sad tale of Tony and Brenda Last. Waugh creates a sense of monotony easily and skillfully. For example, "Only four of the six churches were visible that morning". This is a perfect example of how boring Tony's character really is. One of his daily highlights is to see church spires out of Brenda's window. Everyday. The author really wants to convey to the audience that here is a man who is very much stuck in his ways. He shows no desire for change and adventure, which is exactly what Brenda desires. When Tony responds to an invitation to a party with "Not on her life!" Brenda replies with, "No, I guessed not." She is resigned to putting up with her dull life, and seems, at first at the very least, quite self-sacrificial and to be a considerate wife. However, it is also evident that she shows little affection for
Captain Gray's journal
An unusual static and void nocturnal silence hovered above Beaumont Hamel. Sitting in his dugout, Captain Gray couldn't find any suitable words to send to his wife. His instincts told him that to write a letter would be equivalent to saying farewell, an idea he deplored as it bordered with superstition. Gray's eyelids were heavy, but no slumber seemed to follow this natural sign of exhaustion. With his brain filled with confused angry thoughts he opened his journal. Seeing the blank page, the monotonous parallel lines made the thoughts in his mind seem grotesque, exaggerated and monstrous! Eventually they twisted themselves into acceptable words that came streaming down onto the page like dark water percolating through a stoved ship's side. Gray wrote; "Constant vigilance is the key to survive this War. Tommorow we shall attack, or rather poke the hundred headed Ladon with a twig. I know I mustn't break down, for as a commanding officer I must be an example to my men. I shall grit my teeth and be with them until my time comes. The men must must believe in their officers and have reason to do so. It has been agreed that if I am to fall, Wraysford will take over my platoon. I am glad about this arrangement; I like and trust that laddie, despite the fact that I find him difficult to read. He didn't back out when he was given the chance, now I am convinced he'll manage this.
Malarkey by Keith Gray : Personal study
Personal Study : Malarkey. In the novel Malarkey, the author Keith Gray has made the theme of conflict prominent through key incidents and characterisation. There are several key events in the story that gradually reveal this conflict as the story goes on. The conflict can also be seen through characterisation. Therefore through these two areas of the novel - characterisation and key incidents/events - we can explore the central theme of the storyline, conflict. The theme of conflict starts in the first few pages of the novel. There is a key incident when John Malarkey... the main character is attacked in the school corridor, and has his bag stolen from him. A quote from this section is - "I tried to turn round but was thumped hard between the shoulders and pushed face first to sprawl on the wet floor" This is when the whole story gets going... "Malarkey" is targeted in the school corridor, singled out, pushed on the floor and has his bag taken from him. This starts the whole story, particularly the conflict side of it. After his bag was stolen he chased after the "robbers". When he eventually catches up with the pair though he was punched hard again. After he was punched, he remarked - "I was thrown clean off my feet - I flew. Every bone in my body as I crashed down onto the pavement." Malarkey had to go to his next class with no bag. Although, when he got to his next