Past And Present Through Offred's Memories example essay topic

Narrative techniques are the different ways in which a writer tells their story. Ask yourself the following questions about how the story of The Handmaid's Tale is told: Is it all first-person narration? What are the advantages of this technique for the reader? Is it autobiographical? Is it genuine autobiography, or fictive autobiography? Is the story told in the same way all the way through?

Does the story flow in a straightforward, easily understood style? Are we told the name of our narrator immediately? Does the story emerge in a fragmented, bit-by-bit, way? Could it be deliberately confusing? Are there different narrators?

Are we allowed into the narrator's own thoughts? Do we discover much about the narrator's past? How? What id the effect of using flashbacks?

POINTS TO CONSIDER: . Is the first person narration significant? What is the effect of it for the reader? Why are the epigraphs important? Why are they there? What do they add?

Does the novel begin in a clear, easily understood way? Or, is there some deliberate confusion (narrative puzzle emerges / many ideas of time are presented - both the recent and distant past / effect is to place the story in the recent future)? How are the 'Night's ections (chapters 1, 7 & 18) different from other parts of the novel? Think of what Offred does and why... The use of time shifts and flashbacks.

The fragmentation of the storytelling, it is only revealed bit by bit. The comments made by Offred about the act of storytelling itself - C 7, C 22 &23 (directly addresses the audience for the first time). The 'double' motifs - see class notes 26-9-02. The Historical Notes at the end of the book explain why Offred's story has been told in such a fragmented way. It was pieced together, from Offred's original tape recordings by the academic professors. This explains, and justifies, the fragmented style of storytelling to the reader.

Of course, this style of storytelling, of only partial disclosure, suits Atwood's purpose as a storyteller, of presenting the story gradually. Also, Atwood deliberately wants to show Offred as a distressed and confused narrator; the fragmented storytelling, where Offred cannot concentrate on the dreadful present for too long without recourse to the preferable past, reinforces the idea of Offred's distress. Therefore, Atwood's narrative style aids her presentation of Offred as a distressed and discontented woman. NIGHT Night recurs as a heading seven times. It always signals 'time out' when Offred's life is not under public scrutiny, and when she can escape into her own private world of memory and desire TIME SHIFTS AND FLASHBACKS Mostly within the 'Night's ections where the flashbacks are most sustained The narrative switches often, between the past, present and distant past, juxtaposing past and present, through Offred's memories. Creates a continuing sense of the physical and emotional confusion Offred feels because she has to escape her present The ubiquitous past brings happiness, comfort and power to keep fighting, but it also brings despair, longing and loneliness EFFECT IS to increase the reader's empathy for Offred as they are all emotions that we can relate to By using memory, we see Offred 'feel' - 'stream of consciousness' technique seeks to replicate real thought processes and jumps from one subject to another Like a palimpsest, a parchment that is scraped clean to be used again, traces of Offred's original identity and beliefs still exist beneath her Handmaid guise THE FRAGMENTATION OF THE STORYTELLING A discontinuous, spasmodic narrative, with frequent time shifts & short scenes - effect is to create narrative puzzle / reflect Offred's confusion & distress / represents the complex ways that memory works, where the present moment is always pervaded / affected by other times & places The story shifts abruptly from one scene to another, from present to past time so the narrator's present situation and past history are only gradually revealed We have to piece together and reconstruct the story The story starts in a confusing manner with unfamiliar surroundings, although the setting does become more familiar Offred's story pieces together the voice of the powerless and oppressed in Gilead it is only revealed bit by bit THE COMMENTS MADE ABOUT THE ACT OF STORYTELLING A self-conscious narrator who is aware of the limitations of narrating stories and the human need for telling stories Storytelling (onto tape) is the only possible gesture against the silences of death and of history - it is an act of rebellion in itself DOUBLES MOTIF IN LITERATURE, A MOTIF IS A RECURRING, DOMINANT IDEA Double life - both her physical existence and in her memories Two identities - Handmaid and being an individual in her own right - wife, mother, daughter Two names - birth names and her Gilead ean patronymic Offred & Ofglen look alike as they shop together Characters have their own counterparts - Nick and Luke; Moira and Ofglen; Offred and the previous Offred.