Question

Read this excerpt from What Maisie Knew by Henry James and answer the question that follows. Thus from the first Maisie not only felt it, but knew she felt it. A part of it was the consequence of her father's telling her he felt it too, and telling Moddle, in her presence, that she must make a point of driving that home. She was familiar, at the age of six, with the fact that everything had been changed on her account, everything ordered to enable him to give himself up to her. She was to remember always the words in which Moddle impressed upon her that he did so give himself: "Your papa wishes you never to forget, you know, that he has been dreadfully put about." If the skin on Moddle's face had to Maisie the air of being unduly, almost painfully, stretched, it never presented that appearance so much as when she uttered, as she often had occasion to utter, such words. The child wondered if they didn't make it hurt more than usual; but it was only after some time that she was able to attach to the picture of her father's sufferings, and more particularly to her nurse's manner about them, the meaning for which these things had waited. Identify the type of narration used in the excerpt. Which words in the excerpt indicate the type of narration? What is the effect of this point of view on the reader’s interpretation of the information presented?

Answer 1

The excerpt is an example of third-person limited narration. Phrases such as “the child wondered,” “she must make a point,” and “she was able to attach” indicate this mode of narration. This point of view lets readers see the events through the eyes of Maisie. The description of the emotions and expressions of the character reveal that the narrator is very close to the character.

Answer 2

Narration is developed using a third person style in this excerpt. This causes the audience to relate to the reading as witnesses of internal and external events concerning the characters which are presented by an omniscient entity

Step-by-step explanation:

Evidence of the narration type is found in the use of some characters' names ("Maisie not only felt it, but knew she felt it too"), family titles ("her father's telling her he felt it too") and access to characters' thought process ("The child wondered if they didn't make her hurt more than usual")