Topic 8 - Discourse structure and point of view > Linguistic indicators of point of view > Task A

Linguistic indicators of point of view

Task A - Inferring the world of the fiction

As we read we enter into, by the inferential work we do, a fictional world 'behind the words'. Part of what is involved in this fictional world inference is the understanding of viewpoint and perspective. We will explore various aspects of this in more detail on this page, but first let's notice how we infer different 'pictures' as we read along.

Below is a short extract from a story by Virginia Woolf. You will need to read the whole extract first.

The only thing that moved upon the vast semicircle of the beach was one small black spot. As it came nearer to the ribs and spine of the stranded pilchard boat, it became apparent from a certain tenuity in its blackness that this spot possessed four legs; and moment by moment it became more unmistakable that it was composed of the persons of two young men.

(Virginia Woolf , Solid Objects)

You will see below that we have divided the extract up into three parts, (A), (B) and (C), which can be drawn as three different versions of the same scene.

We would like you (i) to draw each version of the scene, and (ii) to describe what it is in the language that guides you to draw the pictures you do. Finally, you can compare your version with ours.

You can compare your answers with ours by clicking on (A), (B) and (C) below.

(A) The only thing that moved upon the vast semicircle of the beach was one small black spot.

(B) As it came nearer to the ribs and spine of the stranded pilchard boat, it became apparent from a certain tenuity in its blackness that this spot possessed four legs:

(C) and moment by monent it became more unmistakable that it was composed of the persons of two young men.

Home ¦ Outline ¦ Contents ¦ Glossary