Goggle Eyes by Anne Fine
Anne Fine uses a number of literary features in her novel Goggle-Eyes to influence the ways the reader responds. These literary elements include: point of view, theme, style, plot, mood/tone, setting and characters.Point of view establishes how the reader sees the story. Lukens (2003, p 168) describes this type of story-telling as one where the reader is able to live, act, feel and think the conflict as the protagonist experiences it and tells it. Fine uses first-person point of view effectively throughout the novel as the reader shares the opinions and feelings of the narrator, Kitty Killin, one of the main characters. Although scarcely more than a child, Kitty appears to be a trustworthy and likeable narrator as she is intelligent, articulate and perceptive. She often appears wiser and more insightful than the adults in the novel. As a result of this we find ourselves sharing her views. Even though Kitty is quite harsh towards Gerald, we agree with her assessment of Gerald as a "political Neanderthal" (Fine, 1989, p 28) and understand why she states that, "After that horrible, horrible row with Mum I absolutely hated him." (Fine, 1989, p 35)Later in the novel when Kitty's feelings towards Gerald change, as she wonders if
she "hadn't been a bit unfair to poor old Gerald Faulkner, deciding so early on that he was the worst thing to have happened to our household since Dad packed his boxes and went off to Berwick upon Tweed. 81) Kitty is a strong dynamic character. Anne Fine uses a backdrop setting for this novel in order for the reader to focus on the internal conflict and character growth rather than the surroundings of Kitty's world. As defined in Lukens "a round character is one that we know well, who has a variety of traits that make him or her believable" and a dynamic character as "a round character who changes". Anne Fine deliberately draws the reader into Kitty's head and onto her side by writing the story from Kitty's point of view. Lukens states that "we must have these flat characters to help carry the action, to show how the central character behaves or relates to others, to make the setting a believable place. In addition, the novel explores the way young adolescents can be troubled by conflicting emotions. (Fine 1989, p 128) we also modify our views. Fine realistically portrays the ongoing conflict between Kitty and her emotions. The story is set in England although it could be set anywhere. Anne Fine has employed a range of literary techniques in Goggle Eyes. This defines Helens character throughout the novel, as it is essentially Helen that Kitty is telling her story to.
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