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Linguistic indicators of point of view
Our answer for task E
What social position must the reader take on while this
text is being read?
Readers usually feel that, unless there is an obvious reason to do otherwise,
it is their task to share the viewpoint of the narrator. If we ignore
the reference to the unknown boy, in social terms the narrator appears
to be a bit younger than, and of a similar social status to, Bill, Mr
Luscombe's son. Hence we will tend to take on that viewpoint as we read.
This helps to increase the shock when, a few pages later, it is revealed
to us that the unknown boy is actually the narrator himself as a young
boy.
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