The frame novel format of Woman At Point Zero conforms to the typical characteristics for this structure. Frame novels follow a “story within a story” format where the embedded narratives, the more emphasized part of the story, provide context for the main narratives (the introductory outside frame of the story). The first narrative will usually set the scene for the second narrative, which is commonly the more emphasize, important part of the frame set up. Woman at point zero follows this format to provide explanation for the effect that the body of this story has on the framing narrative through suspense and inciting ominous curiosity. The conforming characteristics of Woman At Point Zero to those of frame novels provide purpose for the novel
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The introductory narrative (first chapter) is presented by the psychiatrist interviewing Firdaus for the purpose of setting the scene for the second chapter, Firdaus’ life story. Eventually, the novel reverts back to the story of the psychiatrist in the third chapter. This set up is the “story within a story” description that is commonly associated with frame novels. Both the first and third chapters are significantly shorter than the second chapter. Both chapters are only a few pages, whereas the second chapter takes a large majority of the novel. The first chapter sets the scene for the second chapter by creating a very ominous sense of suspense which insights curiosity within the reader. This is seen within the first few sentences of the book, “The prison doctor told me that this woman had been sentenced to death for killing a man. Yet she was not like the other female murderers held in the prison” (1). Saying that Firdaus was not like the other female murderers in the prison makes readers want to find out why exactly she wasn’t like the other female murderers. The prison guard eventually goes on to explain further that she is not like anyone else (in or out of prison), further adding to the curiosity of the reader. This set up creates questions for the reader to think about and find an answer to. Who is this woman? What makes her different from the rest? How did …show more content…
The intention of the 1st chapter is to hook the reader with suspense and curiosity, to find out the story of Firdaus’ life only by reading further into the book, more specifically, the second chapter. The second chapter outlines Firdaus’ life story up and explains how and why she ended up in Qanatir prison. The second chapter being the majority of the story being told, emphasizes and highlights the struggles that Firdaus faced as an Egyptian woman. This story affects the psychiatrist, and eventually, the impact of that effect is explained at the end of the book through the psychiatrist’s actions: “I got into my little car, my eyes on the ground. Insides of me was a feeling of shame. I felt ashamed of myself, of my life, of my fears, and my lies. … and at that moment, I realized that Firdaus had more courage than I” (108). The hurt and pain of the events that occurred throughout Firdaus’ life, and the reason why she ended up in Qanatir Prison-choosing death, has a very obvious impact on the psychiatrist, where she too is nearly lead to
The introductory narrative (first chapter) is presented by the psychiatrist interviewing Firdaus for the purpose of setting the scene for the second chapter, Firdaus’ life story. Eventually, the novel reverts back to the story of the psychiatrist in the third chapter. This set up is the “story within a story” description that is commonly associated with frame novels. Both the first and third chapters are significantly shorter than the second chapter. Both chapters are only a few pages, whereas the second chapter takes a large majority of the novel. The first chapter sets the scene for the second chapter by creating a very ominous sense of suspense which insights curiosity within the reader. This is seen within the first few sentences of the book, “The prison doctor told me that this woman had been sentenced to death for killing a man. Yet she was not like the other female murderers held in the prison” (1). Saying that Firdaus was not like the other female murderers in the prison makes readers want to find out why exactly she wasn’t like the other female murderers. The prison guard eventually goes on to explain further that she is not like anyone else (in or out of prison), further adding to the curiosity of the reader. This set up creates questions for the reader to think about and find an answer to. Who is this woman? What makes her different from the rest? How did …show more content…
The intention of the 1st chapter is to hook the reader with suspense and curiosity, to find out the story of Firdaus’ life only by reading further into the book, more specifically, the second chapter. The second chapter outlines Firdaus’ life story up and explains how and why she ended up in Qanatir prison. The second chapter being the majority of the story being told, emphasizes and highlights the struggles that Firdaus faced as an Egyptian woman. This story affects the psychiatrist, and eventually, the impact of that effect is explained at the end of the book through the psychiatrist’s actions: “I got into my little car, my eyes on the ground. Insides of me was a feeling of shame. I felt ashamed of myself, of my life, of my fears, and my lies. … and at that moment, I realized that Firdaus had more courage than I” (108). The hurt and pain of the events that occurred throughout Firdaus’ life, and the reason why she ended up in Qanatir Prison-choosing death, has a very obvious impact on the psychiatrist, where she too is nearly lead to