Similarities Between Atonement And Big Fish

How do the authors of the texts Atonement and Big Fish connect with their audiences’ personal lives and experiences through the themes and techniques presented in their texts?

Throughout Ian McEwan’s 2001 novel Atonement and Tim Burton’s 2003 film Big Fish, the central characters search for and explore the themes of atonement, doing anything for love, family relationships, and use techniques such as the art of storytelling. Both share common themes throughout their stories, and the authors connect with their audiences through these themes and techniques present in their respective texts. Atonement was later adapted into a movie by the same name in 2007, and Big Fish was based on the 1998 Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions, and was later

In Atonement, Robbie is sent away to prison and later the war shortly after expressing his love for Cecilia, after being falsely accused of raping her cousin Lola. After Robbie is separated from his battalion, he and two other corporals make their way across France on their way to Dunkirk, where the British Army is evacuating. The letters between Cecilia and Robbie, the memory of their one meeting since he was taken form the Tallis house, and his longing for their future together are sustaining Robbie through his journey to Dunkirk. This kind of love story is one featured in many texts throughout time, and from interest by readers, appears to be timeless. This theme acts as an escape and allows the readers to put aside from their own life, as any good book should do, and to focus on understanding the love Robbie and Cecilia share. Big Fish firstly tells the story of Edward’s quest to find and convince the love of his life Sandra to leave his childhood competitor, Don Price, and marry him instead. Don is represented as a tall, large man who isn’t afraid to fight anyone who tries to take what’s his. After he beats up Edward, Sandra is disgusted by his violence and calls off their engagement, for the much smaller built Edward. This follows the story line of the classic David and

Atonement featured many examples of imagery, which keeps the reader thinking and allows them to recreate the story and imagine it as if it is happening in real life. Having a third person narrator allowed McEwan to switch between characters, their situations, and their thoughts seamlessly. One chapter may focus on Emily Tallis, whilst the next could be from Robbie’s point of view. This allows for an ever-changing storyline that keeps the story interesting. Big Fish used vivid colour throughout the story, which viewers are attracted to. The magical nature of the film and the use of colour in the stories and flashbacks keeps the audience interested and draws them into the story. Colourful scenes were generally joyful, whilst bland-looking and dark scenes presented a more somber mood. This allows for a greater understanding of the mood being presented by Burton and can evoke these feelings in viewers. Another of the techniques used throughout both texts is the use of the art of story telling, and this is explored in a very deep and intricate way throughout the texts. The reader does not find out until the end of the book that the whole book has been written by one of the main characters, Briony. She chooses to write the book in order to give her sister Cecilia the happy ending she deserved with the man whom Briony doomed to prison and later war. Knowing that she could not bring the two back