George Eliot Narrative techniques

Didactic: Eliots narrative attempts to moralise and teach as well

as to entertain. Eliot makes general observations based on
particular events especially with regard to religion, Chance,
personal conduct and changes to the British countryside in light of
the Industrial Revolution.
Find ten clear examples of Eliots didactic narrative.
Colloquialisms: Eliots formal, highly structured prose stands in
contrast to the vernacular and colloquialisms of Raveloe. Dolly
Winthrops speech is heavily accented, as are many of the voices at
the Rainbow. Even the speech of gentle characters such as
Dunstan Cass and Nancy are affected by inaccuracies.
Find three quotes to highlight these points.
Poetic: Silas Marner was originally intended as an epic poem,
inspired by the works of William Wordsworth. The influence of
Wordsworth can be seen throughout both in quotation (epigraph &
ch19) and also in Eliots own style. Eliot employs assonance,
rhythm and rhyme at times in the novel. Her use of imagery is
extensive.
beauty born of murmuring sound from Three Years She
Grew in Sun and Shower Wordsworth.
A child, more than all other gifts that earth can offer to declining
man, brings hope with it, and forward-looking thoughts.
Wordsworth.

Write down the epigraph and quote by Wordsworth. Find one

example of how Eliot veers towards the poetic.

Imagery & symbolism: Recurrence of light/dark and

stream/rivulet imagery to symbolise the state of Silas Marners
soul. Gold as a symbol measures the souls wealth throughout in
the form of the religion, the coins and finally Eppie.
Structure: Echoes Shakespeares The Winters Tale in that there
are two sections, one tragic, dealing in loss, and one regenerative
thanks to the influence of a child (see also epigraph.) Eliot also
allows a 16 year gap and references Time. The structure is
reflective of the novels themes, particularly destiny and the notion
that everyone ultimately receives a fate in keeping with their
conduct. the orderly sequence by which the seed brings forth a
crop after its kind. Narrative closure is achieved in this manner in
the case of each character.
Trace how each major character receives and ending in keeping
with his or her conduct.