Practical class 7. Narrator and Narrative Techniques in American Novels of the 20th century Texts

William Faulkner. The Sound and the Fury — Фолкнер У. Шум и ярость

Ken Kesey. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest — Кизи К. Над кукушкиным гнездом.

J. D. Salinger. The Catcher in the Rye. – Дж. Д. Сэлинджер. Над пропастью во ржи.

Vladimir Nabokov. Lolita — Набоков В. Лолита

Narrative

The role of author / narrator in postmodernistic writings. What is the difference between author and narrator?

Name types of narrator. Provide each type with an example (try to remember books you’ve read)

Unreliable narrator. Functions. Opportunities of usage.

Narrative strategies.

Questions for discussion

William Faulkner 'The Sound and the Fury'

What is important about the title? Is there a reference in the novel that explains the title?

One of the complaints that readers voice about the novel is that the book is difficult. Did you find the book overly difficult? Did the difficulty level prevent you from finishing the book? Or, would you have finished the book if you were reading it outside of a classroom setting?

Does the story end the way you expected? How? Why?

Would you recommend this novel to anyone?

Faulkner has said that the character of Caddy was his “heart’s darling”— her character inspired him to write the novel. Why is Caddy driven to pitfalls?

Do you like the stream of consciousness style or do you find it confusing? Would you read another novel written in stream of consciousness style? Do you feel that stream of consciousness was an effective way of presenting Benjy? Quentin? Jason? Why do you think Faulkner did not use stream of consciousness for Dilsey’s section?

Perhaps the single most important theme in The Sound and the Fury is the presence of time in human life. How is that relationship explored throughout the four sections of the novel?

Ken Kesey “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”

How do we know Bromden is schizophrenic?

How does One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest position the reader to reconsider what is sane?

What does Nurse Ratched and the Ward Symbolize?

What was the Combine and what did it mean to Chief Bromden in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest?

What is the turning point in Ken Kesey's novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest?

Find Biblical allusions and symbolism. How does McMurphy become a Christ figure?

Why is Bromden the narrator of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest instead of McMurphy? Who is the real protagonist of the novel? How does the use of Bromden as the narrator tie into the biblical allusions in the novel?

J. D. Salinger. The Catcher in the Rye

Is Holden consistent in his actions? Is he a fully developed character? How? Why?

How essential is the setting to the story? Could the story have taken place anywhere else? In any other time?

Though Holden never describes his psychological breakdown directly, it becomes clear as the novel progresses that he is growing increasingly unstable. How does Salinger indicate this instability to the reader while protecting his narrator’s reticence?

The novel is structured around Holden’s encounters and interactions with other people. Does any pattern seem to emerge, or does anything change in his interactions as the novel progresses? How do Holden’s encounters with adults, children, women, and his peers evolve as the novel progresses?