Wednesday 7 April 2010

Time in the section B texts

I think if you're considering time in the texts, you have to think about the different ways in which it is used to structure the narrative. If you consider the most common way to indicate time in writing--the use of different tenses--this can sharpen your account. So, for instance, look at the tense-shift at the end of 'The Eve of St Agnes', or during 'La Belle Dame'.

Otherwise, consider how Haddon uses time differently--subjective time ' it seemed ages' and objective time 'seven minutes after midnight' and how those two interact to suggest things about character and perspective.

What about how the wedding-guest's anxiety about time (what is happening with the wedding) interacts with the Mariner's tale?

1 comment:

  1. I suppose he is retelling a tale (in ballad form) that although happened in the past is made to have an impact on us as if we are witnessing the events in the present. This is done through things such as the vivid + detailed descriptions.

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