CA3 Assignment 3 Unseen Prose a) The story is told with a third point of view, with an omniscient narrator.

. This is effective to a large extent because of the way the writer utilizes the point of view to add to the environment and atmosphere in the text. The narrative style serves to build an air of detachment. While it allows us to feel the same feelings of anxiety and fear as the reader, the lack of the usage of the word "I" also reminds us that the author is alone. The semidarkness of the car... (where) there were no other passengers" builds up the idea of a dark, ominous surrounding. While the choice of diction already builds a sense of vulnerability, the detached third person point of view allows the reader to see the character as truly alone. The narrative style is thus effective in enhancing the tension and suspense that is already present in the text. The narrative style is also effective in building up conflict. As the protagonist struggles with himself, alternating between negative perspectives of his situation and "(not allowing) himself to think of (those negative outlooks)", the third person point of view allows us to create even more distance from his thoughts. While it still exposes us to the internal conflict the character is feeling, it allows us to focus on the actions around the character, such as the repetition of "his hand (going to) his wallet", and the attempting to "see the other man's face clearly". These actions show us the protagonist's fear, anxiety, and vulnerability. Thus, with the additional focus on the actions of the protagonist, we are allowed a greater insight into his feelings and reasons for internal conflict. Therefore, the narrative style is also effective in building up the conflict within the protagonist in the text. Also, the narrative style is effective in the resolution of the text. While the omniscient narrator is present throughout the text, it is newly utilised in bringing the entire story closure. In the last paragraph, readers are given an insight into the thoughts of the taxi driver, rather than just the protagonist alone. The final alternative viewpoint not only puts all fears at rest by showing the protagonist's vivid paranoia is nothing more than paranoia, but also introduces situational irony. This irony is present in how the taxi driver and protagonist were both afraid of each other for the same reason, and both were trying to protect themselves from each other. This situational irony creates humour in the text, ending the suspenseful story on a lighter and relief-filled note. Resolution and closure are thus created using the narrative style of the passage. The third person omniscient narrative style used is effective in enhancing tension and suspense, building up conflict and creating a sound resolution. Thus, it plays a very important role in the writer's technique as it features in all parts of the play and greatly contributes to reader enjoyment.

b) The writer uses the setting and atmosphere to enhance the sense of fear within the main character. The protagonist is uneasy and the environment he is in only serves to increase this unease and paranoia. Firstly, the setting in this extract is sinister. The vivid analysis that the protagonist make of the cause of something as ordinary as a falling dustbin evokes an unsettling sensation, as the attention to detail is unnatural and chilling. The sensory imagery used in the setting to describe even commonplace occurrences most people would ignore shows the protagonists heightened awareness and suspicion of his surroundings. This in turn, causes the readers to sense his increasing unease and fear. The scene seems to be dark and indistinct, as the few pale stars in the sky had been covered by a dark cloud. This enhances the sinister atmosphere of the setting and increases the sense that the protagonist was fearful. In addition, the sense of vulnerability is very apparent throughout the text. The instinctive need for a means to protect himself with the meager protection of a stick reflects his fear and paranoia that he will be attacked and his feeling of defenselessness that gives rise to his fear. The image of him stepping out into the deserted street, in the path of the strong beams of light caused by the two headlights (that) were drawing near gives the impression of a trapped animal, an exposure and vulnerability that causes the sense of fear and tension to be increased. The inability to see clearly in the semidarkness causes a fear of the unknown and thus emphasizing this sense of vulnerability and helplessness. The writer uses various techniques such as imagery to build up tension in the text. As the protagonist (walks) up and down, up and down, the readers are able to picture the action, which reveals the protagonists nervousness and uneasiness. The image of a dog scattering (the) contents (of a dust-bin) reflects the scattered and jumpy state of his mind, causing the readers to feel his sense of disquiet, thus building up the sense of tension. The tall, dark bushes around the taxi stimulate a feeling of claustrophobia, as the sense of being trapped starts to close in. As the car went faster and faster, the protagonists sense of terror escalated in tandem, with his heart beating so fast that he could hardly breathe. This strong imagery grips the reader, intensifying the tension concurrently with the protagonists emotions. Furthermore, the writer uses syntax to heighten the sense of the protagonists distress, which also serves to increase tension. The shout of pure terror when the protagonist screams Stop! is short, sharp and harsh. This one word exclamation causes the pace of the reading to be abruptly stopped and sharpens the feeling of tension. The ellipses used when the protagonist is musing to himself and allowing himself to suppose lets the reader come to his own conclusion about the protagonists wild imagination. The horrors that the reader imagines lends the story a fear of the unknown and a sense of foreboding. Frequent exclamations by the protagonist in his thoughts even as he wishes that he had (just) a stick! to protect himself shows his anxiety, which builds up tension. As the pace of reading is expertly maneuvered by the writer to be increased and decreased at various intervals, it effectively causes the suspense and tension to be built up throughout the text. Overall, the writer very effectively used different literary techniques to build up tension in the text and this adds to the whole sense of uncertainty and inner conflict. The writers technique in enhancing the sense of fear within the character, and showing the internal conflict he faces, combined with the narrative style of the text, effectively grips the audience from beginning to end and milks the suspense and tension of the passage to its fullest potential.