The following term paper deals with the short story "Butterflies" written by Ian McEwan, which was published in 1975. In the course of this paper, a closer look will be taken, if there is an unreliable narrator in the short story and which function he has. Within the context of clarifying the terms that are used in this paper, a definition of the narrator, especially the unreliable narrator, will be given.
Afterwards a short summary of the short story follows. The following analysis depicts examples of unreliable narration in the short story and tries to respond to the opening question. Finally, the conclusion replies to the main question of the term paper.
Unreliable narration is often used in literature, film or theatre but we can also find it in real life. It can be found everywhere. Authors use it to manipulate others and to transmit feelings and thoughts.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Theoretical background
- Unreliable narration
- Gerald Genette's influence on unreliable narration
- Analysis
- What function has the unreliable narrator in the short story butterflies?
- Why does the author use an unreliable narrator in his short story?
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This term paper examines the use of an unreliable narrator in Ian McEwan's short story "Butterflies" from the collection "First Love, Last Rites," published in 1975. The paper analyzes the narrator's unreliability, exploring his motivations and the function he serves within the story. The paper also considers the theoretical framework of Gérard Genette, who provided valuable insights into narrative theory and the concept of unreliable narration.
- The concept of unreliable narration in literary texts
- The function of an unreliable narrator in shaping narrative interpretation
- Gérard Genette's contribution to narrative theory and its relevance to unreliable narration
- The characterization of the narrator in "Butterflies" and his unreliability
- The author's use of an unreliable narrator to create a specific narrative effect
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction provides a general overview of unreliable narration in various forms, highlighting its presence in both fiction and real-life scenarios. It focuses on the purpose of unreliable narration, which is often used by authors to manipulate others and convey emotions and ideas. The chapter also introduces the focus of the paper: exploring the presence and function of an unreliable narrator in Ian McEwan's short story "Butterflies."
The theoretical background section delves into Gérard Genette's influence on unreliable narration. Genette is renowned for his contributions to narrative theory, particularly his systematic approach to narrative categories. This chapter explains Genette's distinction between focalization and narration, as well as his concepts of extradiegetic and intradiegetic narrators. The chapter also elaborates on the characteristics of unreliable narrators, emphasizing the importance of understanding the distinction between the narrator and the author.
The analysis section examines the short story "Butterflies" in detail, focusing on the specific function of the unreliable narrator. The chapter explores examples within the text to demonstrate how the narrator presents a distorted view of events. The analysis explores the narrator's motivations for his unreliability and the effects this has on the reader's understanding of the story.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The primary keywords for this work include: unreliable narration, Gérard Genette, narrative theory, Ian McEwan, "Butterflies," short story, characterization, homodiegetic narrator, focalization, narrative effect.
- Citation du texte
- Anonym (Auteur), 2018, Unreliable Narration in Ian McEwan's "Butterflies". An Analysis, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1375333
