ENGL 1005 Literature: A Global Perspective - Week 3

Course Information

• Course Title: ENGL 1005 Literature: A Global Perspective
• Instructor: Eric Schmaltz, Ph.D.
• University: Dalhousie University

Agenda for Week 3

• Tutorial Activities
• Key Concepts: Narration and Point of View
• Discussions of voice, focalization, theme, and more
• Texts to be covered:
• Jamaica Kincaid’s "Girl"
• Jhumpa Lahiri's "Hell-Heaven"

Upcoming Tutorial Assessment

• Tutorial Activity #1
• First course assessment, not a test or quiz
• Graded for completion (3% of total grade)
• Preparation:
• Print and read "The Collapse of Self-Worth in the Digital Age" by Thea Lim
• Bring your copy and writing materials

Voice, Focalization, and Point of View

• Voice:
• Quality of narration; word choice, syntax, imagery, idiom, rhythm
• Focalization:
• Visual angle of the narrative
• Point of View (POV):
• Perspective through which the story is told
• Fiction relies on a narrator; mediates events of the story

Types of Point of View

• First Person:
• Uses “I”; perspective filtered through one consciousness
• Examples of unreliable narrators who may mislead readers
• Second Person:
• Uses “you”; very uncommon; implicates the reader
• Third Person:
• Uses “he, she, they”; external perspective, can be omniscient, limited omniscient, or objective
• Types of Third Person:
  • Omniscient: Knows all events and thoughts
  • Limited Omniscient: Knows thoughts of some characters
  • Objective: Reports only observable actions, no internal thoughts

Impact of Point of View

• Consider how changing POV could alter story's meaning and effects
• Analyze how specific narration contributes to meaning

Jamaica Kincaid

• Background: Born in Antigua, immigrated to the US at age 17
• "Girl":
• First short story published in New Yorker

Voice, Diction, and Effect in “Girl”

• Written as a series of commands, focusing on home and societal behavior
• Stream-of-consciousness technique reflects the girl’s evolving thoughts

Characters and Social Expectations in “Girl”

• Unidentified relationships; inferred as mother-daughter
• Examination of gender roles and societal expectations in the Caribbean

Ambiguity and Perspective in “Girl”

• Lack of concrete setting, uses commands to explore the girl’s mind
• Questions potential focalization through the girl’s perspective

Theme in “Girl”

• Insight into oppressive gender norms and expectations for women
• Evidence of strict, didactic narrative voice enhances theme

Jhumpa Lahiri's “Hell-Heaven”

• Characters: Pranab, Aparna (mother), Usha (narrator), Shyamal Da (father)
• Setting: Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Focuses on a mother’s secret crush, exploring traditional values

Passages and Interpretation in “Hell-Heaven”

• Opening line introduces the central characters and tension
• Descriptions highlight contrasts between characters’ backgrounds

Pranab’s Character

• Exploration of motivations and changes influencing relationships

Final Sentence Impact

• Shifts understanding of the story, emphasizing mother-daughter connection
• Highlights the importance of POV in interpretation

Next Steps

• Tutorials this week; first assessment due
• Read stories by Mistry and Thien before next week’s class
• Don’t forget course materials for the tutorial!

Additional Notes

• Review the characters and themes before class
• Prepare questions based on readings for tutorial discussions