Analysis of Aesthetic devices in 'About a Boy'
About a boy, written in 1998 by Nick Hornby explores the themes of mental health, 1990's culture and family through the friendship of two characters; Will, a thirty-six-year-old bachelor and Marcus, A 12-year-old outcast. In about a boy, the author has used a range of aesthetic devices that shape character representation. An Aesthetic device is an element that authors intentionally use to create intellectual/emotional responses in their novel. This analytical essay will explore how Nick Hornby has used irony, point of view and stream of consciousness to shape character representation.
Irony is a technique that is used (through a character or plot development) to convey an intention or attitude opposite to what is literally stated. In essence, irony is humour based on opposites and contradiction. It is supposed to make the reader laugh due to the mismatched characteristics of specific situations. About a Boy by Nick Hornby explores significant issues through the use of humour. Techniques such as Irony, ridiculous situations and vivid imagery encourage the audience to laugh while simultaneously being challenged to think about serious issues such as mental health, bullying and relationships. This is meant to elicit an emotional response within the reader. An example of irony in About A Boy is the Dead duck scene, where the humour of Marcus killing a duck with a loaf of bread foreshadows the solemn event of Fiona’s Attempted suicide. The initial humour of Marcus killing the duck is slapstick. This is evident when the text states “Marcus couldn’t believe it. A dead duck. Ok, he tried to hit it with a piece of sandwich” and when will says “that’s not a sandwich, that’s a bloody French loaf. No wonder it keeled over. These two humorous statements contrast with Fiona’s attempted suicide. The dead duck scene combined with Fiona's attempted suicide encourage the reader to reflect on the seriousness of mental health, as this event is unexpected after the previous (dead duck) situation.
Point of view is a literary device used to depict the perceptions and opinions of different characters. Essentially, the point of view allows readers to form a relationship and
Point of view is the narrator’s position in the story being told. Point of view changes the story drastically, since you are hearing different stories and opinions by different characters in a story. Even if the plot is the same, the point of view will change the entire story. Point of view can also create tension between different characters. For example, if you are hearing the thoughts of one character in the story, and the actions of another character who is aware of these rude thoughts, the reader knows that the two characters tension between each other will eventually rise up to a certain point that a problem will occur. Point of view creates a lot of tension in the two books, Confetti Girl and Tortilla Sun, between the narrator and their parent. Both books
Irony, a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often amusing as a result. Throughout Night there is use of situational and verbal irony. This use of irony keeps the reader interested. The use of irony causes the reader to know things that the characters often are not aware of.
Although irony may be associated with negative events or actions, it can also be a sign of good for characters within stories. According to Dictionary.com, irony in literature is defined as “a technique of indicating, as through character or plot development, an intention or attitude opposite to that which is actually or ostensibly stated.” The use of irony is found within the novel The Kite Runner, written by Khaled Hosseini. Hosseini uses irony to portray and develop the main dynamic character in this story, Amir. Most of the major events Amir is faced with at a younger age seemingly come full circle when he reaches adulthood. Irony plays a role as Amir lives through tragic events that ultimately teach him how to become a better person.
There are three principal sources of interest in narratives: suspense, mystery, and irony. In the narratives “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner and “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Ronald Dahl, irony is a primary source of interest. Irony is defined as a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often amusing as a result. In both of these cases, the use of irony by the authors greatens the impact the pieces have on their audience. In both “A Rose for Emily” and “Lamb to the Slaughter”, the authors have numerous pieces of irony throughout their respective stories; this use of irony creates a better reading experience for the reader.
Irony is a useful device for giving stories many unexpected twists and turns. In Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour," irony is used as an effective literary device. Situational irony is used to show the reader that what is expected to happen sometimes doesn't. Dramatic irony is used to clue the reader in on something that is happening that the characters in the story do not know about. Irony is used throughout Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" through the use of situational irony and the use of dramatic irony.
Irony is a useful device for giving stories many unexpected twists and turns. In Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour," irony is used as an effective literary device. Situational irony is used to show the reader that what is expected to happen sometimes doesn't. Dramatic irony is used to clue the reader in on something that is happening that the characters in the story do not know about. Irony is used throughout Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" through the use of situational irony and the use of dramatic irony.
A point of view is a position in which the story is being told, but did you know that there is two point of views in The Three Little Pigs and The True Story of the Three Little pigs? The two stories have views changed by how the author tells them. In the story of the pigs it’s in third person, but in the wolf’s view he just wants sugar and see’s them as a snack so it’s first person. The story of “The Three Little Pigs” and “The True story of the Three Little pigs” have different point of views that help the readers understanding of the wolf.
Point of view is described as the perspective from which a story is told (Literature, G25). In the story "Everyday Use" the point of view is that of first person narrator or major character. The story is told by the mother in the story. The theme of this story is that of a mother who is trying to cope with changing times and two daughters who are completely different. Having the story told from momma's point of view helps to reveal how momma feels about herself and how she defines her daughters Dee and Maggie.
"Irony is a device that protects him (the artist) from the pain of his experience so that he may use it objectively in his art(Susquehanna. "New Critical")." In The Glass Menagerie, it is ironic how Tom speaks badly of his father and his leaving home but in the end he leaves home just like his father, the man "in love with long distances (Williams 30)''. The fact that Amanda wants what is best for her children is ironic because she worries so much over it that she doesn't realize what is best for them.
1. Point of view – the view or perspective of how the story is narrated (i.e first person)
In Nick Hornby’s novel, About a Boy, Will Freeman is one of the main characters that went through a significant change throughout the novel. In the beginning, Will Freeman is a selfish and arrogant character. He enjoys the lavish life of a wealthy bachelor; he does not work and lives by himself. Then, Will Freeman meets Marcus, a very quirky twelve-year-old boy. Despite their differences, Will and Marcus are able to develop a bond. As the plot goes on, Will starts to demonstrate some character development; he starts to care for others and become self-conscious about his choices and actions. In his novel, About a Boy, Nick Hornby illustrates a character development through Will Freeman having no purpose in life to finding one.
Every day people experience ironic situations. Whether it is the bus leaving early when someone is already running late for work or an obstetrician missing a delivery because she is in labor; irony happens. Poetry is life in the form of art, and without irony, it would not be as interesting or relatable. “Irony in poetry occurs when a discrepancy exists between two levels of meaning or experience… Skillfully used, irony is a powerful way of making a pointed comment or manipulating a reader’s emotions” (445). Be it situational irony where the situation itself is opposite a reader’s expectation, verbal irony where a poet manipulates tone to say something opposite of what the words say or dramatic irony which is when the reader sees something
Point of view is something that many people argue as relativistic and subjective. To explain; it is the external circumstances and events that give reality shape or form which is dependent upon a single person. How does this relate to seeing? As I have mentioned before in a earlier paper we are all victims of our own biases and filters created through our outside means. As it becomes internalized and reflected back out towards the world which creates the binocular view as we have discussed in class lectures. The real question at this point becomes how these extensions of reality become a collective view-point? As an example at what point do we decide what blue is, what it is associations?
1.1 Point of View is the eyes of the story, it is the main way you see how the story takes place. In One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, the story is presented in first person as we see Ivan navigate through the difficulties found living in a Soviet prison camp. In the case One Day in the Life, thoughts like Ivan remembering to but his needle in his hat to avoid getting caught lets readers see how he can survive in the Siberian wasteland. Point of view can also lead to confusion as well, like in A Visit to the Museum where the main character tells a tale of his quest to get a painting out of a museum in France and ends up getting arrested in Russia. The point of view of the story leads to the confusion as the narrator takes us through an ever-growing museum.
Essentially, the point of view allows readers to form a relationship and understanding of characters. The point of view is instrumental in manipulating the readers understanding of the narrative as it can allow or prevent characters from accessing the story objectively. The novel “About a Boy” by Nick Hornby deals with the problems of two different people, both in age and personality. Even though they are different in age, attitudes toward life and personality, they are similar in many different ways (e.g. Both lonely with no friends). The first seven chapters of the book are mainly about Marcus, however, Will; the thirty-six-year-old bachelor is also introduced. Throughout the book, the author adjusts perspectives by switching between characters in first person. This creates a personal relationship with the reader to both of the characters and allows us to get an understanding of point of view and motivations. One example of point of view in the novel occurs after Fiona’s attempted suicide when a narrator tells the reader about Marcus’s thoughts and feelings; saying “this was the scariest thing he had ever seen by a million miles and he knew that he would have to think about it forever (P58)”. Another example of point of view in ‘About a Boy” is when a narrator tells the reader about Will’s attitude towards life and relationships; saying “Great sex, a lot of ego massage, temporary parenthood without tears and a guilt free Parting, what more