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What aspects of the book does the narrator insist really happened?

User Puzzl
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Final answer:

Unreliable narration in 'The Remains of the Day' and other texts illustrates how narrators' perspectives and literary devices affect storytelling, raising questions about the authenticity and trustworthiness of their accounts.

Step-by-step explanation:

The aspects of the book the narrator insists really happened often refer to the degree to which we can trust a first-person narrative. In the context of Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day, the unreliable narration presented by the protagonist Stevens raises questions about the authenticity of his accounts.

Through instances such as the heated argument with Miss Kenton, readers witness the use of direct speech, suggesting a certain degree of realism. However, Stevens' subsequent narration may undermine trust in his recollections, illustrating Ishiguro's skillful manipulation of the reader’s perception.

The text also encourages us to consider thematic elements such as childhood experiences, which can be skewed by memory and subjectivity as seen in the novel's reference to 'Once upon a time' and the childlike diction in Anthony Burgess's description of Portrait.

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