Initial Post (250 words) with two responses (75 words) each.
Read “The Cask of Amontillado” found here below:
https://www.ibiblio.org/ebooks/Poe/Amontillado.pdf
***If you need login username is: mohammadreza.taeibi-rahn@my.occc.edu Password: Occc2021
While “The Cask of Amontillado” is narrated in the first person, Montresor does refer to “You” in the first paragraph. As your book notes on page 178, “Sometimes the first-person narrator addresses an auditor, a listener within the fiction whose possible reaction is part of the story.” Who is the auditor that Montresor addresses? What is the overall effect of the auditor?While “The Cask of Amontillado” is narrated in the first person, Montresor does refer to “You” in the first paragraph. As your book notes on page 178, “Sometimes the first-person narrator addresses an auditor, a listener within the fiction whose possible reaction is part of the story.” Who is the auditor that Montresor addresses? What is the overall effect of the auditor?
Respond to the two below posts:
Aceela:
The first sentence in “A Rose for Emily” uses the word “our” which states its first-person narrative. This sets the reader to believe that they are included in the category that the narrator is talking about. It sets that tone immediately after reading the first sentence. However, if Emily herself was the narrator the use of language and point of view would be very different.
Once a character is the narrator of their own story, there will be words used like “my”,” I”, etc. Once a reader is reading a story like that, the tone is more of like storytelling. Rather than being part of a story by using the words “our”, “we”, etc.
The story would also be very different because it would no longer be a mystery. The reader would understand exactly what happened to her and why she did the things she did. Although this could expand more questions for the reader, it would be answered by her telling her own story. The reader can read her point of view and it would be a completely different story. Instead of the story being an unsolved mystery with many questions, it would be her side of the story, with her thoughts, etc. The audience in the story now wouldn’t have the same questions they are addressing if she narrated the story.
Overall, there would be a big change in “A Rose for Emily” if she was the narrator. The tone and emotions wouldn’t be the same. The questions would be answered and there wouldn’t be any mystery or sadness in the story. It would just be her story.
Stephanie:
The mystery surrounding the narrator in “A Rose for Emily” contributes significantly to the overall impact, tone, and feel of the story in several ways.
Firstly, the use of an anonymous, first-person plural narrator created a sense of detachment and objectivity. In my opinion, the narrator is not an individual character but rather a collective voice of the townspeople, it allows for an objective perspective on Emily’s life and the events that transpired. This detached perspective makes the story more impactful, as it feels like I am part of the community, observing the events from a distance.
Secondly, the mysterious narrator adds to the ominous tone of the story. As the reader, I do not know who is telling the story, and the use of “we” creates a sense of collective guilt and responsibility for the townspeople. This ominous tone is reinforced by the use of subtle hints that point out Emily’s strange behavior, contributing to a sense of unease and tension that builds throughout the story.
Thirdly, the mystery surrounding the narrator contributes to the overall feel of the story, creating a sense of timelessness and universalness. By remaining anonymous and using a collective voice, the narrator represents the community’s views and values, which can transcend time and place. This universal quality makes the story feel timeless and relevant and resonates with readers from different cultural backgrounds.
Overall, the mystery of the narrator in “A Rose for Emily” adds to the story’s impact, tone, and feel by creating a sense of detachment and objectivity, reinforcing the ominous tone, and contributing to the universal and timeless feel of the story.
