'Men We Reaped' is a memoir that uses past tense, first-person narration, which provides a personal account of Jesmyn Ward's experiences and reflections.
Step-by-step explanation:
'Men We Reaped' is a memoir by Jesmyn Ward that is mostly written in past tense, first-person narration. The author, Ward, writes from her own perspective, using pronouns such as 'I' and 'we' to tell her story, which situates her personal experiences and the events she describes in the past. This style of writing helps convey a sense of intimacy and immediacy, as Ward reflects upon the losses she has experienced in her community.
Understanding the use of verb tenses and narrative perspective is crucial for analyzing literature effectively. When a narrative is written in the first person, it provides a direct insight into the thoughts and feelings of the narrator. Similarly, the choice between past or present tense can influence how readers perceive the sequence of events within a story, making the comprehension of verb tense critical for thorough literary analysis.