briar rose essay

Briar rose by Jane Yolen explores three distinct narrative voices to allow the reader to explore the events of the holocaust from three different perspectives. Hence, The composer of the novel Briar Rose uses distinctive qualities illustrate the message that through telling stories, and listening to stories, the individual come to a better understanding of themselves, of others and the world.
Jane Yolen , the composer of the novel Briar Rose uses distinctive qualities to explore the concept that although stories may include elements of fantasy, it is within it that the truth is expressed. This idea of stories is portrayed through using the personal pronoun in “Gemma, tell your story again” which shows that the story Gemma is telling is personal. The fact that this is at the beginning of the novel, and is retold more than once by Gemma shows the significance of the fairy tale to the grandchildren and Gemma herself. Additionally, this quote acts as an indication to the theme of the novel, showing the importance of stories in seeking truth. This idea is also shown through the allegory in the line “I curse you Briar Rose….all the people in your village, and all the people who bear your name”. The allegory in Gemma’s version of Briar Rose refers back to the curse of the holocaust and is compared with the destruction in the extermination camps revealing the horror of the holocaust. This idea is reinforced by the alternating chapters used throughout the novel. The alternating chapters shift between Gemma and Becca’s stories. For example chapter one of the novel introduces Gemma as telling the story of Briar Rose to her grandchildren. The second chapter however starts Becca’s story, and this structure is continued throughout the novel. This exposes the truth gradually creating a feeling of suspense, and conveying through stories, individual will come to a better understanding of themselves and others. Consequently, Yolen has used the fairytale allegory, and alternating