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Essay Topic: Discuss Point of View as a Technique and Theme in ‘Atonement’.

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Essay Topic: Discuss Point of View as a Technique and Theme in ‘Atonement’.
Introduction
The use of varied points of view, known as , free indirect discourse, or variable internal focalisation, omniscient narration is used in fiction to create particular themes in such books as the 'Atonement' by Ian McEwan, Jane Austen and many other authors. Using these styles has been spoken of as heightened literary skills which delivers to the reader what the author desires to reveal of their characters. It is an advanced and old style that can be used to bring forth the many perceptions created by the writer. This essay will discuss how point of view is used as a technique and thereupon the theme of atonement within free indirect style, variable internal focalisation and omniscient narration ultimately narrated by an aging Briony.
The origin
The origin of these multi-narrative styles dates back to pre-Jane Austen and also used in children’s literature 'which often needs to allow a child - or the child’s proxy, an animal -to see the world through limited eyes, while alerting the older reader to this limitation'. (Wood,11) For instance, Part One in the 'Atonement' uses different focal characters, multiple focalisation and free indirect discourse which enables McEwan to present perception. Point of view is constructed by using a varied style of author’s licence. For instance, Part One uses different focal characters, multiple focalisation and free indirect discourse which enables McEwan to represent perception and misperception. These points of view behave in such a way as to allow the characters moods, thoughts and perceptions be known to the reader.
Features
A feature in 'Atonement' written by the elder Briony, is that she 'imagines that by telling her life story', it will act as atonement, but in reality ' she is psychoanalysing herself'. She (promises to atone in her book) but does not gain self-comprehension and the question remains: how can she get beyond, “the fact that these minds are, ultimately her own creation?” (Marcus, 1994) so in using



Cited: Candidate, 316773. "1st Person Narration in Atonement and Number9Dream." Narrators as Characters in Two Psychological Novels of 2001 December/January 2002 Childs Peter. Contemporary Novelists: British Fiction since 1970. Palgrave MacMillan, 2005. 276. Finney, Brian. ‘English Fiction Since 1984: Narrating a Nation. Houndmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan, 2006. Harold, James . "Narrative Engagement with Atonement and The Blind Assassin." Philosophy and Literature 29.1 (2005): 130-145 Hidalgo, Pilar. ‘Memory and Storytelling in Ian McEwan’s Atonement’. Critique 46.2 (2005): 82-91. McEwan, Ian. Atonement. London: Vintage Books, 2007. Marcus, Laura. Auto/biographical discourses: theory, criticism, practice. Manchester: Manchester University Press ;, 1994 Wood, James. How Fiction Works. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008.

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