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Monkey Beach Analysis

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B’gwus Beach Essay Roughdraft In the story excerpt, Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson, the author writes about a Haisla woman named Lisa who has just lost her brother Jimmy at sea. The excerpt recounts the grief Lisa and her parents are feeling. Followed by a flashback of Lisa and her family going to the acclaimed Monkey Beach. Throughout the excerpt, Robinson uses specific narration and setting techniques, that when examined thoroughly will aid in a deeper understanding of the text. The narration that is utilized by Robinson helps us to understand and feel connection to Lisa. Robinson writes the narration through the point of view of Lisa because the story is revolved around her. The connection can be felt to Lisa when, "[She] didn 't tell them …show more content…

He’d leave before [she] awoke.” (Robinson 9) The deep sense of love for Jimmy would not be experienced on this level if Lisa was not the narrator. Another important detail of narration is Monkey Beach is written in present tense. The use of present tense adds more impact to the words because it is happening now and not in the past. When, “the trapper shot him in the head, and the creature landed with a heavy thump at the bottom of the cliff." (Robinson 8) adds more intensity than if the trapper had already shot the creature. Present tense is especially effective when Lisa, “turned back and saw him." (Robinson 16) The audience is living the moment right then with Lisa as she spots the sasquatch. It would be less thrilling if she had already seen the sasquatch. The element of surprise would be less. The author also effectively uses first person and second person narration. First person is a powerful form of narration because the audience directly becomes involved with Lisa because you are seeing and feeling what she is. An example of this is when Lisa, “couldn’t move. [She] heard [herself] screaming and [she] stood there.” (Robinson 16) **(Change the I to she) The impact of this being in first …show more content…

(REWORD) The story takes places approximately during the era of 2000 due to the evidence that Lisa’s “grandmother thinks the people on TV are real.” (Robinson 10) There is also the mention of modern day modes of transportation via boat, plane, or car. (Robinson 6) This is important to know because depending on the time era people think and act differently. The main location is, "Kitamaat [which] is a Tsimshian word that means people of the falling snow, and that was their name for the main Haisla village." (Robinson 4) Kitamaat is a village nestled in between mountains and ocean and is home to seven-hundred people (Robinson 5) It is an important location because it shows the heritage where Lisa and Jimmy come from. At the beginning of the excerpt, it is, “[s]uch a lovely day. Late summer. Warm." (Robinson 2) and the clock says it is around seven-thirty in the morning. (Robinson 2) There is a feeling of warmth and relaxation as the setting then transitions to Monkey Beach in a flashback during a family trip. Lisa loves going to Monkey Beach because there were lots of seashells. (Robinson 13) Jimmy was excited to go and take a picture of sasquatch at Monkey Beach so he could be rich. (Robinson 10) While they are at Monkey Beach the mood shifts from happiness to a sense of unease because Jimmy goes missing in the morning. (Robinson 15) Monkey Beach becomes a place of mystery, as Lisa goes to look for her brother, “the

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