Stories can sometimes contain an unreliable narrator. Many times it can be difficult for the reader to detect if the author is reliable or unreliable. Greta Olson explains in detail how to determine if an author is unreliable through her article, “Reconsidering Unreliability: Fallible and Untrustworthy Narrators.” She includes details such as textual signals, implied author's, irony inconsistencies, indications and external circumstances to support her claim. However, Olson does not include that a fictional piece is supposed to be unreal and not believable. If the story is fictional can the reader determine if the narrator is unreliable? In the story Beowulf, there is a heterodiegetic narrator, and the story is fiction. It is hard for the
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Irony can be used to hide the truth, or fool the reader. “Irony provides the formal means by which distance is created between the views, actions, and voice of the unreliable narrator and those of the implied author,” (Olson 94). It can be hard for the reader to detect irony because they can’t hear the author's voice and tone. In Beowulf, Unferth gives his sword to Beowulf, almost as if he was showing Beowulf the honor he deserved, but, ironically, Unferth is jealous of Beowulf and is just trying to get out of fighting the monster himself. Unferth makes fun of Beowulf because he is jealous. “You’re Beowulf, are you- the same boastful fool who fought a swimming match with Brecca, both of you daring and young and proud,” (Raffel 239-242). Later in the story Unferth gives Beowulf his sword as a sign of respect. The narrator in Beowulf uses irony to try and trick the reader into believing Unferth is actually recognizing Beowulf for his great achievements, but Unferth still picks on Beowulf. The narrator is also going back on what they said, first the stated Unferth is jealous of Beowulf, now they are showing that Unferth respects Beowulf. The story is inconsistent when the narrator goes back on what was said, leading the reader to believe the narrator is
Irony can be used to hide the truth, or fool the reader. “Irony provides the formal means by which distance is created between the views, actions, and voice of the unreliable narrator and those of the implied author,” (Olson 94). It can be hard for the reader to detect irony because they can’t hear the author's voice and tone. In Beowulf, Unferth gives his sword to Beowulf, almost as if he was showing Beowulf the honor he deserved, but, ironically, Unferth is jealous of Beowulf and is just trying to get out of fighting the monster himself. Unferth makes fun of Beowulf because he is jealous. “You’re Beowulf, are you- the same boastful fool who fought a swimming match with Brecca, both of you daring and young and proud,” (Raffel 239-242). Later in the story Unferth gives Beowulf his sword as a sign of respect. The narrator in Beowulf uses irony to try and trick the reader into believing Unferth is actually recognizing Beowulf for his great achievements, but Unferth still picks on Beowulf. The narrator is also going back on what they said, first the stated Unferth is jealous of Beowulf, now they are showing that Unferth respects Beowulf. The story is inconsistent when the narrator goes back on what was said, leading the reader to believe the narrator is