What's the effect of shifting narrative style in Ransom? What's the effect?

[ahat]

Why does Malouf break the book up into sections as he does?
Also, what's the importance of Achillie's little moment of extended epiphany in the intro?
And, what do you guys think is the important of Chance in the novel? Do you think it's a big theme? What do you think are the most important aspects of the novel?

~Ahat

[Alienmobman]

The most obvious theme from the novel is storytelling (VCAA have never put a prompt on this) as malouf even says in the afterword 'its primary interest is in storytelling itself- why stories are told and why we need to hear them, how stories are changed in the telling'.

That said this came up as a prompt for one of my practice exams. You can also weave it subtly into many prompts. You sound like you really know your stuff, btw

[texroy]

It's really interesting to hear everyone else's interpretations of the text. While Ransom is one of the texts on offer at my school, I'm probably going to take the alternate option in Wilfred Owen's War Poems. Just never been a fan of Malouf's writing style (studied Fly Away Peter in year 11)

My score on my Ransom SAC wasn't exceptional, but here's my 2c on what I can answer-

[W]hat's the importance of Achillie's little moment of extended epiphany in the intro?

My English teacher theorised that this is to show that the 'heroes' (that is, the three major characters in Achilles, Priam and Somax) in the novel are all flawed in their own ways. I think it's also to shift our perceptions of Achilles. Most people who pick up Ransom expect to read about the 'great warrior' Achilles who was a hero to the Greeks in their siege on Troy; but the first section of the book paints Achilles as someone very vulnerable, and someone who is self-aware of these vulnerabilities (he knows that "one day, he will return to [the earth]"). It also shows Achilles' internal conflicts - he knows that what he has done to Hector is wrong, and he is so desperate to "assuage his grief" over his loss - that he has returned to a child-like state and wishes to once again see his mother.

What do you guys think is the important of Chance in the novel? Do you think it's a big theme? What do you think are the most important aspects of the novel?

Chance is part of one of the big themes, as Alienmobman said. Another point where chance is highlighted is when Priam has the vision from Iris (p. 46). However, the discussion should be more about Chance vs Fate. Remember you can always argue that chance did not cause the effects of Ransom and that fate did. It becomes a bit of a chicken-and-the-egg situation, but there's that option open as well for argument.

Other 'key' themes I can remember we discussed are the importance of names (Podarces/Priam literally being named after a Ransom himself; Somax's struggle with accepting the title of Idaeus); what it takes to be a 'hero'; and conflict - both through battle and moral struggle.

[ahat]

Thanks for the replies guys

I was also thinking, at the beginning where they don't mention Achille's name (calling him "the man" etc etc) is important.

Withholding Achilles' name allows the audience to have a first impression of the character without first judging him based on their knowledge of the Iliad. The first few pages show Achilles' more sensitive, feminine side and it is a shock when his name is finally revealed that a character known to be so strong is having such emotional thoughts, and as such, the power of names and words is revealed.

While Ransom is one of the texts on offer at my school, I'm probably going to take the alternate option in Wilfred Owen's War Poems.

My gosh, we did the same combination I was ardent on doing the War Poems, thinking I was a beast at it (I didn't really - I just hoped there was going to be like 5 people who wrote on it), then I read someones essay and realised how shocking I actually was at it. Then I was made to wallow in regret as I went to practice essays on Ransom I'd written earlier in the year and realised of how higher quality they were Ahhh, wasted so much time on Owen.

[Lolly]

Alienmobman I am so sorry for accidentally editing your post, please dong me on the head. ><

[Alienmobman]

Alienmobman I am so sorry for accidentally editing your post, please dong me on the head. ><

hahah nah thats alright. is there a way to unedit it? cant remember what i wrote. Hopefully people read what i wrote before it got cleared.

[texroy]

My gosh, we did the same combination I was ardent on doing the War Poems, thinking I was a beast at it (I didn't really - I just hoped there was going to be like 5 people who wrote on it), then I read someones essay and realised how shocking I actually was at it. Then I was made to wallow in regret as I went to practice essays on Ransom I'd written earlier in the year and realised of how higher quality they were Ahhh, wasted so much time on Owen.

Haha, unfortunately my method of writing is really direct and to-the-point and I'm always told I "need to go deeper" and be more articulate in my writing style, so I didn't really have solid foundations for either to work on. I just picked Owen because I found the quotes easier to remember as they were, for the most part, in rhyme 

Best of luck with it all!