The Good Soldier Literary Analysis - 1023 Words

Narrative Structure The first rubric which I devised, is one surrounding narrative structures of three particular texts in the course: Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad, The Good Soldier by Ford Madox Ford, and The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West. The narrative structure in all three of these texts is experimental in nature, as is characteristic of modernist novels, and follows similar patterns. In these three texts, the narrative structure takes away from the characterization of the narrator as the narrator hardly seems to be a character in the novel, pointing towards a modernist evaluation of the self versus the entirety of a text. As most modernist novels have experimental narrative structures, I chose these three novels to include in†¦show more content†¦Her character is formed by her relationship with others, and the rare times someone speaks to her. As this is typical of these three novels, one would wonder if the narrator of the modernist novel is meant to be unimportan t. Each novel would fall apart if the character that performed the narration was removed. Antithetically, The Return of the Soldier could potentially be removed from this grouping and placed in another group entirely. The narrator in Lord Jim and The Good Soldier both has a backstory and some substance, whereas Jenny has nothing. We know nothing of Jenny’s past present or future, except for her conflicting love for Chris. In this novel, Chris controls all the characters, yet Jenny is the only character in that novel that does not have a sense of self. Lord Jim and The Good Soldier are more similar to each other as both novels have unreliable narrators and storylines that shift through time. In Lord Jim, Marlow deliberately holds information from the reader for dramatic effect. This manipulation of the chronological events in the novel makes it easier for Marlow to juxtapose two events to make one stand out or make one more dramatic than the other. For example, large events su ch as Jim’s death is discussed in several chapters and withheld all this time, until finally revealed near the end to the reader how he died. This storytelling is not exclusive to Lord Jim, and is a technique used by many, but MarlowShow MoreRelatedAnalysis of Literary Devices in Soldiers Home Essay951 Words   |  4 Pageslife of a young soldier who returns home. The story paints a vibrant picture of a soldier’s life after coming back from a shocking experience. Hemingway shows impacts of war on a soldier with the main character being Harold Krebs, who faces hostility in his hometown after his return from fighting in the war. The main character in the story is Kreb with the author making usage of repetition, characterization, and symbolism to bring out the message in the story. Analysis of literary devices in â€Å"Soldier’sRead MoreFiction Analysis Essay710 Words   |  3 PagesFiction Analysis There are many ways to supplement a story in order to add lucidity. It is done through literary devices and Tim OBriens The Things They Carried is no different. The Things They Carried is a narrative about a soldier at war in Vietnam. However, this story provides multiple layers of meaning through OBriens tone and style that help the reader further understand it. Both of these literary devices are embedded in the story and gradually help define it. To begin with, OBrienRead MoreThemes Of The Forbidden Kingdom982 Words   |  4 PagesUnderlying Theme in the Forbidden Kingdom Literary works entertain, convey a moral lesson, or acquaint their audiences with the knowledge of a particular human condition (Bucks County Community College 1). Through their writings, authors bring various ideas and themes to bear. A theme is perceivable as an underlying premise or idea in literary works or a film. Typical examples of such topics include repression, loneliness, struggle and accomplishment, good and evil, free will, rebirth, and redemptionRead MoreAnalysis of Anthem for Doomed Youth1382 Words   |  6 PagesAnalysis of â€Å"Anthem for Doomed Youth† Originally published in 1920, shortly after World War I, â€Å"Anthem for Doomed Youth† demonstrates the horror of the unjust deaths of young soldiers. â€Å"Anthem for Doomed Youth† is a poem about Owen’s distain towards the honourless way in which young soldiers pass on, and the impact their deaths have on the loved ones they leave behind. The following essay will show that in the anti-war poem, â€Å"Anthem for Doomed Youth†, Owen uses sensational descriptionRead MoreEgoitarianism In Henry David Thoreau1662 Words   |  7 Pagesunparalleled in terms of detailed descriptions, observations, and understanding and explanation of deeper meanings. Through analysis of his writings and the expert opinions of others, evidence exists that Henry David Thoreau was an egotistical and hypocritical person while also one of the most influential writers in American History. As such, we should remember and praise the exceptional literary works of Henry David Thoreau rather than his character. One overarching characteristic, observed through Thoreau’sRead MoreComparison Of Emma Watson And Tim Watsons Speech941 Words   |  4 PagesEmma Watson and Tim Collins Analysis and Comparison Essay English Language Assignment In this essay I will be comparing and analysing Emma Watsons ‘Gender Equality is your issue too’ speech, executed on the 20th of September, 2014. Watson had pre-prepared this speech, as it was performed for the HeForShe campaign at the UN Headquarters, in New York. Alongside Tim Collins’ speech to the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment, in Iraq, 2003 – of which was an eve-of-battle rousting and of whichRead MoreThe Movie Park Avenue : Money, Power And The American Dream858 Words   |  4 Pagesas a mere fantasy that cannot be achieved in life. For this reason, people never take the opportunity to evaluate the true facts behind that dream. In the documentary â€Å"Park Avenue: Money, Power and the American Dream† by Director Alex Gibney, an analysis of the true facts behind the ‘American dream’ is presented (Lee). Similarly, the poem â€Å"Dulce et Decorum Est† by Wilfred Owen speaks about the true facts of a war that peopl e foolishly dream to go to for honor (Owen). The two are distinct in the senseRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of Hawthorne s The Old Town Of Salem My Night Essay1151 Words   |  5 PagesCherry 1 Source Text Excerpt Analysis This old town of Salem-my native place, though I have dwelt much away from it, both in boyhood and mature years-possesses, or did possess, a hold on my affections, the force of which I have never realized during my seasons of actual residence. (6) Hawthorne shows that although he has moved away, his New England â€Å"soul and spirt† remain in Salem and he is still drawn to Salem and still struggles with some of the Puritan values that were instilled in him. The figureRead MoreEssay On Hassan As An Archetype1014 Words   |  5 Pagessacrificing himself for the greater good. Authors frequently and consistently make use of this archetypal figure in order to draw allusions between their characters and the biblical Jesus Christ, in order to present strong character development and allow the author to provide a more profound meaning to symbolic actions, setting, symbols and overall push forward a stronger, and more refined and meaningful theme. The essay seeks to explore the literary techniques employed by Hosseini in theRead MoreHamlet vs. Oedipus Essay898 Words   |  4 PagesCharacter Analysis of Prince Hamlet in Hamlet by William Shakespeare and Oedipus in Oedipus King by Sophocles In Aristotles literary discourse, Poetics, he discusses his theory of tragedy, wherein he introduces the concepts of tragic flaw or hamartia, which serves as the catalyst for the protagonists downfall or the tragedy of the story to happen. He determines a tragedy as a drama that brings about a sorrowful conclusion, arousing fear and pity in the audience (Roberts and Jacobs