Setting and narrator

In what follows, we will discuss the setting and narrator of the short story “The Right Time to Fly” by Shirley Golden.

Setting

Published in 2013 the short story was probably intended to be seen as a contemporary one. The action takes place in a landfill and its surroundings probably somewhere in the UK, as indicated by the use of British English.

Physical setting

The physical setting of the landfill and its elements are important for the way the author explored themes of resignation, guilt, freedom and starting over, as well as perspectives. For Marcus, it is a rather desolating place:

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Narrator

The short story is constructed using a third-person narrator who renders the events from the perspective of one of the characters, Marcus.

The narrator’s presence is felt through indications about who is speaking or acting, like in the following example: “ 'She’s back,' Marcus says. He claps his hands and waves. 'Whoa, stop. Stop.' ” (l. 1)

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