In almost any story of childhood and adolescence the topic of death plays a major
role. Especially in autobiographies that begin with early childhood, death is usually
addressed at some point within the story and can often be seen as central to the
child’s initiation process. It is in a child’s first confrontations with death that it
learns about loss and sorrow and begins to understand the finiteness of life.
However, experiences with death tend to be very different for each individual child
and each child has different ways of addressing death, and coming to terms with it.
This essay will examine death as an experience of initiation in the autobiographies
To the Is-Land by Janet Frame and The Twelfth of Never by Louis Nowra. Looking
closely at both of the authors’ early confrontations with death the essay will then
seek to examine common themes of death (e.g. the power of death, the mystery of
death) and will then look at the different ways that death becomes significant to
both characters individually.
In To the Is-Land it is the loss of Frame’s Grandmother that first confronts young
Janet with the reality of death. However, it seems questionable whether Janet at this
point already grasps the finality of death. Her grandmother’s death seems to
provoke curiosity rather than grief. This is illustrated by the fact that Janet’s concern
is more directed towards the decision of whether to look at her dead grandmother
lying in her coffin, or not, than it is towards actually feeling sorrow at the loss of a
loved person. Her refusal to “look on the face of the dead”1 at the same time
confronts her with the connection of death and power, even if this connection is
drawn in a childlike and slightly bizarre way.
“When Myrtle came out of the room, I could see in her face the power of having looked at
the dead.”2
1 Janet Frame, To the Is-Land, p. 23
2 IBID
Table of Contents
Death as a Theme of Initiation
Objectives & Topics
The essay explores the significance of death as a central theme in the childhood initiation processes described in the autobiographies "To the Is-Land" by Janet Frame and "The Twelfth of Never" by Louis Nowra. It investigates how different authors and protagonists confront the mystery, secrecy, and power associated with death to construct their individual identities and understanding of the adult world.
- The role of death as an initiation experience in childhood.
- Symbolism and the mystery of death in early autobiographical narratives.
- The juxtaposition of death with language and poetry as a coping mechanism.
- The perception of death as an expression of power and control.
- Comparison of parental influences and household dynamics regarding mortality.
Excerpt from the Book
Death as a Theme of Initiation
In almost any story of childhood and adolescence the topic of death plays a major role. Especially in autobiographies that begin with early childhood, death is usually addressed at some point within the story and can often be seen as central to the child’s initiation process. It is in a child’s first confrontations with death that it learns about loss and sorrow and begins to understand the finiteness of life. However, experiences with death tend to be very different for each individual child and each child has different ways of addressing death, and coming to terms with it.
This essay will examine death as an experience of initiation in the autobiographies To the Is-Land by Janet Frame and The Twelfth of Never by Louis Nowra. Looking closely at both of the authors’ early confrontations with death the essay will then seek to examine common themes of death (e.g. the power of death, the mystery of death) and will then look at the different ways that death becomes significant to both characters individually.
Summary of Chapters
Death as a Theme of Initiation: The essay examines how early encounters with mortality in the autobiographies of Janet Frame and Louis Nowra serve as pivotal moments for childhood development. By analyzing specific events and the authors' reflections, the paper explores how death functions as both an abstract mystery and a concrete manifestation of power within the family structure.
Keywords
Autobiography, Childhood, Death, Initiation, Janet Frame, Louis Nowra, Mortality, Mystery, Power, Poetry, Loss, Identity, Memory, Trauma, Narrative.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this essay?
The essay explores how the theme of death serves as a catalyst for the initiation into adulthood within the autobiographies of Janet Frame and Louis Nowra.
What are the central thematic fields?
The central themes include the mystery of death, the connection between death and language, the perception of death as a source of power, and the transition from childhood to the adult world.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to analyze how the authors' early confrontations with death shaped their understanding of life and how this is reflected in their autobiographical writing.
Which methodology is used?
The author employs a comparative literary analysis of two autobiographical texts, focusing on thematic elements and the psychological development of the protagonists.
What is covered in the main section?
The main section investigates specific childhood experiences of death for both Frame and Nowra, comparing how each author navigates these experiences through memory, symbolism, and evolving perceptions of their parents.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include autobiography, childhood, mortality, initiation, power, and narrative identity.
How does Janet Frame’s experience with death differ from Louis Nowra’s?
Frame tends to associate death with mystery, poetry, and a sense of "eternal separation," whereas Nowra’s experience is heavily linked to the revelation of family secrets, power dynamics, and the "macabre" nature of human events.
What role does the "murder of the father" play in Nowra’s narrative?
The murder of the father serves as a source of absolute power for Nowra's mother, influencing Nowra's own fear and his developing understanding of the brutal reality of the adult world.
- Quote paper
- Stephan Scheeder (Author), 2003, Death as a Theme of Initiation: An essay on the autobiographies 'The Twelth of Never' by Louis Nowra and 'To The Is-Land' by Janet Frame, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/16797
