Analysis

An analysis of the short story “The North London Book of the Dead” by Will Self shows that the narrative follows a chronological plot structure with events that take place over several months. The text can be structured in two parts: the first part deals with the narrator’s way of coming to terms with his mother’s death, while the second part deals with the narrator’s encounter with his dead mother, which is foreshadowed in the first part. 

The main characters of the story are the narrator and his mother. The narrator’s relationship with his mother and the influence she has on him are an important part of the story.

The physical setting is London, the city where both the narrator and his dead mother live in. The physical setting also has a symbolic meaning, as it is the place where the realm of the living and the realm of the dead meet. The social setting explores the laws of an alternate society – that of the dead. 

The story is told by a first-person narrator, who is also the main character. The narrator relies heavily on humor and irony to express his feelings. 

The language used in the story is neutral. Informal and colloquial words and expressions give the dialogue a natural feel. 

A full analysis of the short story can be found in the following pages.