Who’s Irish? By Gish Jen — Link To The Story ✓ Solved

Whos Irish By Gish Jenlink To The Storyhttpsthelifelonglearning

Whos Irish By Gish Jenlink To The Storyhttpsthelifelonglearning

"Who's Irish " by Gish Jen link to the story This forum will focus on narration and point of view! For your initial post, please consider how these literary terms are defined on our Elements of Fiction (the same attachment for both of the homework): · Stories are told from the point of view of a narrator (POV). When the narrator is a character it is referred to as first-person narration. If we have reason to doubt the information we are getting, we call the narrator unreliable. In third person narration, the narrator can have omniscience (all-knowing) or limited omniscience (narrator tells us the feelings/thoughts of only one character).

Stream of consciousness narration shows us the continuous stream of inner feelings and thoughts of one character. 1- In light of contemporary issues and writing style, analyze the impact of narration/voice on each story's tone and meaning. 2- How does the narrative style help to define the characters? 3- How does it help to convey meaning? 4- In your post, make specific references to the story's characters and scenes.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Analysis of Narration and Point of View in Gish Jen’s “Who’s Irish”

Gish Jen’s short story “Who’s Irish” employs a nuanced narrative voice that profoundly influences its tone, character development, and underlying themes. The story is narrated in a first-person point of view by the protagonist, a young girl who recounts her experiences with her family’s cultural identity and societal perceptions. This narrative choice creates an intimate and personal tone, allowing readers to access the inner thoughts and feelings of the narrator directly, which enhances the story's emotional resonance.

The use of first-person narration in “Who’s Irish” provides a subjective and sometimes unreliable perspective, which reflects the complexities of adolescence and cultural identity. The narrator’s perceptions are filtered through her youthful understanding, which at times leads to misconceptions and biases. This unreliability adds depth to the narrative, compelling readers to consider the influence of personal bias and innocence on storytelling. For example, the girl’s depiction of her peers’ judgments and her own self-perception reveal her struggle to reconcile her cultural background with the expectations of her American environment.

The narrative style—primarily stream of consciousness—delivers a continuous flow of the protagonist’s inner feelings and thoughts. This technique effectively conveys her internal conflicts, such as her desire to fit in and her pride in her heritage. Through this unfiltered access to her psyche, the story explores themes of identity, societal perceptions, and familial loyalty. Scenes where she reflects on her parents’ customs or her classmates’ teasing are rich with the character’s emotional nuance, making her internal state palpable.

The direct voice of the narrator helps to characterize her as a complex individual who embodies innocence, confusion, and resilience. Her perspective reveals her naivety but also her developing self-awareness. For example, when she defends her family’s traditions or reacts defensively to accusations, it underscores her attempts to understand her cultural place in a divided society. This narrative style thus not only defines her character but also invites readers into her personal journey of identity formation.

By employing a first-person and stream of consciousness narration, the story captures the nuanced impact of cultural identity on personal development. The voice shapes the tone of introspection and vulnerability, unraveling how internal struggles with acceptance and pride manifest externally through her interactions and reflections. The narrative technique underscores the theme that identity is an evolving construct, shaped by both internal perceptions and societal influences.

References

• Jen, G. (1996). “Who’s Irish.” In Stories of a lifetime. New York: Knopf.
• Genette, G. (1980). Narrative Discourse: An Essay in Method. Cornell University Press.
• Chatman, S. (1978). Story and Discourse: Narrative Structure in Fiction and Film. Cornell University Press.
• Abbott, H. P. (2002). The Cambridge Introduction to Narrative. Cambridge University Press.
• Barthes, R. (1977). “The Death of the Author.” In Image, Music, Text. Fontana.
• Genette, G. (1983). Figures of Literary Narrative. Columbia University Press.
• Bruner, J. (1990). Acts of Meaning. Harvard University Press.
• Prince, G. (1982). A Dictionary of Narratology. University of Nebraska Press.
• Kermode, F. (1979). Figures of Truth. Oxford University Press.
• Scholes, R., & Kellogg, R. (1966). Structuralism in Literature. Methuen.