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... away. In the two novels, very different narrative techniques are used. In Of Mice and Men, the story is written in third person view, like an observer.
This technique does not draw you into the story very quickly. It is clear from the writing that Steinbeck is calling on previous experiences. He is basically writing about what he has witnessed and experienced as he went through the Great Depression. Steinbeck's simple writing style shows what it was like during the Great Depression.
Steinbeck uses no flashbacks or jumps into the future in this story. This helps to maintain the sense of tension and climax that he has written so evidently through the novel. The third person view of the story is good because it is possible to have an independent view of all the characters and their feelings. To maintain the setting that Steinbeck has created, he uses the local American dialect: bindle, for a bag and can, for a sack, this adds a sense of realism and authenticity to the story.
Steinbeck is very careful in the first chapter to drop hints to us readers, give us signals for possible trouble. When George and Lennie are resting in the brush the story of Weed is deliberately written in by Steinbeck. It tells of how Lennie was accused of rape, and how he and George had to escape or be lynched. Combined with the appearance of Lennie being very slow witted, trouble like this might happen again.
George and Lennie make an arrangement to meet in the brush if there is any trouble. This hints that George knows how Lennie can get himself into trouble very easily and therefore he has a safety plan. This gives us the signal that there could be impending trouble for these two. This helps to heighten the suspense and anticipation for the rest of the story. In Great Expectations, the narrative techniques differ from those of the novel, Of Mice and Men. In Great Expectations, the story is written in first person view.
This means that the main character, Pip, tells the whole story from his point of view. This is established in the first two lines: My fathers family name Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could not make of both names nothing longer, or more explicit as Pip. Pip introduces himself and establishes his credentials. For the beginning of the first chapter, we are addressed directly in an immediate and personal manner. He has authority to tell this story, as it is his own life. In the fourth paragraph, the technique differs slightly.
Instead of Pip addressing us directly, the child Pip is being addressed by Magwitch. It is not third person view, but we observe the events from the side. We still get Pips reactions to these events but we are not addressed directly. This enhances the realism of the moment and it does not take anything away from the suspense built up by the interaction between the characters. As we read the chapter knowledge comes through that the child Pip, could not have known or commented on in that situation. Cut by flints, is a perfect example.
The child Pip would have seen the wounds on Magwitch but he would not have known the agents, he could have been cut by flints or but by knifes. The adult Pip also comments on his own perceptions as a child: unreasonably derived. The adult narrator can see the limitations of his childish perceptions and he comments on how he was nave then. This technique is called a Duel technique. The adult Pip has a much more extensive knowledge and wisdom and he can shape the readers responses, like commenting on moral or immoral behavior. He is basically teaching the reader from his own mistakes and missed opportunities.
When Magwitch appears, his description is void of verbs. Soaked by water, smothered in mud, lamed by stones, cut by flints, stung by nettles, and torn by briars. The impression of this technique is immediate. Instead of concentrating on the action (verb) the readers, attention is fully focused on the appearance of Magwitch. When we become an observer during the child Pip, Magwitch interaction, we become very sympathetic with Pip, I pleaded in terror, it shows the power of Magwitch over Pip. Dickens emphasizes the terror of the child, which in turn develops the character of Magwitch to be a dangerous, scary person.
Pip also uses sir, all the time as a sign or respect and fear for making the convict angry. Intimidation is used a great deal in this part. The physical aspect: turned me upside down, Magwitch dominates Pip with his strength of an adult over the strength of a child. His whole presence is intimidating to Pip: to keep myself from crying. Magwitch is so scary that Pip has to try hard not to cry although he is a child. Dickens uses this pure intimidation to help develop Magwitch's character to be a dangerous, evil individual.
This adds suspense to the scene and the rest of the book. The development of the main characters in the first chapters is critical for the story to be a success. The reader needs a character they can relate to and follow. In Of Mice and Men, the main characters are George and Lennie. These two characters are the complete opposite of each other. George is a small, nimble, intelligent man, whereas Lennie is a massive giant of a man, slow, and not very intelligent at all.
This contrast is quite interesting because it makes us wonder if a friendship like this could last especially as Lennie makes so many mistakes. Lennie copies George with everything, Lennie, who had been watching, imitated George exactly. This seems strange as he is a grown man but he still has a mind of a child. George is the leader of the two he handles all the deals and jobs he is the intelligent and can talk his way out of trouble most times. Lennie follows George exactly. Lennie is a good worker but he is not very bright.
Lennie can be very forgetful: I gotta tell you again, do I? he does not mean to but he is very childlike and relies on George to keep him on the right path. George gets very angry with Lennie Give it here, Lennie's close hand slowly obeyed. It makes us wonder why they are still together, this is answered when Lennie threatens to go and leave George alone: I could go off in the hills there. When he says that George a...
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Research essay sample on Comparing Great Expectations And Of Mice Men
