Comparing Face By Alice Munro And Long, Clear View

The two short stories of Face, written by Nobel Prize winner Alice Munro and Long, Clear View written by Tim Winton are both interesting and captivating stories. This is due to the unique themes, structures and language techniques used to connect with the audience on a personal level.

Face written by Alice Munro, tells the story of a boy, initially rejected by his father due to the prominent birthmark on his face. The most significant theme within the short story is confusion. Throughout the story, the notion of confusion is seen through statements such as “I did not contribute to a comfortable marriage. But how had they ever come together?” This is said as the narrator questions why his father’s main quality was hating and despising. The structure of this short story surrounds the idea of a …show more content…
Written in second person, the text creates a bias of Vic’s town. The main theme in the text is anxiousness. This is seen as Vic’s father leaves for work, causing Vic to rely on his father’s rifle for rest and safety. This is amplified as Winton states that Vic checks the safety bolt repeatedly for his “piece of mind.” Through the use of the word “piece” instead of “peace” Winton suggests that the gun has literally become a ‘piece’ of Vic’s mind. The structure of this story again surrounds the idea of central conflict, with the leaving of Vic’s father and the crime within the town, such as the girl being found dead in the toilet at Vic’s school social, becoming the climax. The language within this short story is emotionally unattached, until the rifle is brought into the text. This is seen through the statement of “there are times when you have to house yourself. That’s when you go into your parent’s room and take the rifle from the wardrobe.” This amplifies the emotional attachment that Vic has with the rifle as it reminds him of his