CharacterisationIdeology and Destination

Representation

Birdsong: Section 2

Characterisation: Jack Firebrace (121-138)Symbolism of his name?What devices does Faulks use to introduce

and define the characterisation of Jack Firebrace?121 – 126127 – 132133 – 138

Characterisation: Stephen, 132-193External perspective, 132-8

What aspects of Stephen’s character are emphasised and how does if offer a new perspective to the reader?

Has Stephen significantly changed? How much is coloured by Jack’s bias?

Internal/External perspective, 145 > In what ways has his character developed and in

what ways is he essentially the same man? What are the complexities that lie behind

Stephen’s perceived coldness? What new light do his recent experiences throw

upon his actions at this point in the novel?145-62162-78179-93

Representation: The Epistolary Form: Letters as a Narrative Technique

Faulks is renowned for using letters to develop his narrative. Margaret’s letter to Jack is the 4th letter so far 126-7Stephen’s unsent letter to his employer 52Marguerite’s letter to Isabelle 106Isabelle’s letter to Jeanne 114Epistolary sequence pp220-3 (Weir, Tipper, Stephen, Jack,

Byrne)What do these letters say and what don’t they say?

Why is communicating via a letter different to speech? What do these letters add to our understanding of characters?

Margaret relays information about John to Jack in a letter, but Isabelle never writes to tell Stephen of his daughter. What is the effect of this contrast?