Analysis

Here you can find a presentation of the main topics we will focus on in the analysis “The Age of Lead” by Margaret Atwood.

The short story follows a flashback structure. A TV show triggers a stream of consciousness in the main character, Jane, who begins recalling her relationship with a man named Vincent. Vincent is an important character because of the way Jane relates to him.

The social setting captures different perspectives in different socio-historical times, such as 150 years ago, pre-WWII, and in the early '90s. The main physical setting is Jane’s house where she watches TV. However, the story also mentions other places such as the Arctic area shown on TV where scientists research the Franklin Expedition, Jane’s childhood home, or the hospital where Vincent died.

The narrator has limited knowledge of the characters and events, only conveying what Jane knows, sees, and recalls. The language of the story includes imagery, similes, repetitions, rhetorical questions, and symbols, which add to the meaning of the short story and make it more appealing for the readers.

Read the full analysis of the short story in the next pages!