Question

Describe the Narrator of a Text

NAR 4.A
"Ruthless" by William de Mille
Read the excerpt below. Then type in your answer to the
question posted below.
Outside, the woods lay in clear October sunlight the autumn
air was full of the sharp, exciting smell of moist, leaf-covered
earth. Inside, a man smiled grimly as he turned from the
bathroom cabinet, entered the primitive living room of his
mountain camp, and crossed to a closet set in the pine wall.
It Tas his special closet with a spring lock, and in it he kept
guns, asimunition, fishing rods and liquor. Not even his wife
was allowed to have a key, for Judson Webb loved his personal
possessions and became furious if they were touched by any
hand but his own.
The closet door stood open: be had been packing his
things away for the winter, and in a few minutes he would be
driving back to civilization.
William de Mille's short story focuses on a man
intent on revenge, planning a serious plot for a
rather petty offense.

How would you describe the narrative relationship?

Answer 1

The narrative relationship in this excerpt from William de Mille's short story "Ruthless" is third-person omniscient. The narrator has insight into the thoughts, emotions, and actions of the characters, particularly Judson Webb, the central character in this scene. The narrator provides a detailed and objective description of the setting, the character's inner thoughts, and his possessive nature, giving readers an intimate view of the character's mindset and intentions.

Answer 2

The narrative relationship in this excerpt can be described as one of anticipation and suspense. The passage sets the scene in a mountain camp during clear October sunlight, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere. However, the mention of the man's grim smile, the description of his special closet with a spring lock, and his possessiveness towards his personal possessions hint at a sense of foreboding and tension. The reader is left with a feeling that something significant, possibly revenge or a serious plot, is about to unfold, creating anticipation and suspense in the narrative.