People-Watching | Analysis

Dette er Studienets study guide til novellen "People-Watching" af Julia Gray. Novellen var en del af eksamen i Engelsk A på STX fra 30. maj 2016 med følgende opgaveformulering:

Write an analytical essay (900-1200 words) in which you analyse and interpret Julia Gray's short story "People Watching".

Part of your essay must focus on the structure and the use of symbols.

Præsentation af teksten

Titel: “People-Watching”
Forfatter: Julia Gray
Udgivet i: The Mechanics Institute Review
Udgivelsesår: 2014
Genre: Novelle

Julia Gray er en ung britisk forfatter og singer-songwriter bosiddende i London. Hendes første roman “The Otherlife” udkom i 2016.

Uddrag

Herunder får du et kort uddrag af vores analysehjælp til "People-Watching":

People-watching

In this particular short story, the activity of “people-watching” has a symbolic role, apart from its textual meaning. Indeed, the two characters are on an assignment to watch and draw people on the street. However, the grammar behind this compound word acts as a symbolic trigger of the main character's memories about his dead sister. This is why this activity can be interpreted differently according to each of the characters. For Kajsa, it is a normal activity, despite the word itself being curious for her. For Paul, however, it is a haunting activity because when he watches people, he can only imagine them dead (because of his sister's death).