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Pilgrims Progress Essay

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Writing in first person or third person determines not only the pronouns, but how we perceive the story. Often, first person creates more intimacy between the reader and the character. The unreliable narrator is also most common in this perspective. Third person is less invasive and less limiting. In third person, the narrator does not participate in the action. Oddly enough, Pilgrims Progress communicates its narrative in multiple perspectives. Admittedly, any story that employs a first person pronoun is in first person. However, the first person narrator is only there to remind us of the real world. All the action in Pilgrims Progress happens through Christian’s eyes. Christian’s story occurs in a dream. This clever trick enables John Bunyan to be as unspecific about time and place as he wishes. Nevertheless, he fleshes out magnificent …show more content…

This style makes the story fast paced, but it usually limits connections to the characters. This dispassionate observer does not explain the character’s feelings or thoughts. The writer communicates only the essentials of what is happening. Despite this, Bunyan shows the feelings of the characters through dialogue and body language. Letting readers interpret the characters’ emotions, makes the story more relatable. The spectators observe the characters accomplishing these feats and have a neutral view of the action. This projects the story like a screenplay. In limited point of view, readers are confined to the character’s perspective, but the readers are not in the characters head. It is more common in Pilgrim’s Progress than omniscient. Limited creates tighter narrative and allows for deeper connection. It permits explaining of backstory, setting information, and more from the author. It tells more than shows. It only appears when Bunyan can’t vocalize the thoughts of Christian without seeming forced. Usually, this is when Christian is reflecting his bad

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