Narrative technique

Souvankham Thammavongsa’s short story “Edge of the World” is told from the point of view of a first-person narrator. This perspective makes the reader sympathize with the narrator.

The narrator, who is also the main character, takes part in the events and is directly affected by them. She also observes how people around her act. For example, she notices how her mother “slept in (her) room most nights” (l. 72) or how her “parents didn’t spend much time alone” (l. 16). Despite her young age at that point, she still noticed some aspects that hint to her parents’ distant relationship. 

The story is told in retrospect: The narrator, who is now 45 years old, looks back on the events that happened during her childhood. This means that the narrator is now able to understand thi...