Photo by Alex Vámos on Unsplash
In the day 59 post, I offered an example of a covert narrative situation, Lost in the Moment and Found by Seanan McGuire, along with questions we can ask to try to discover what the narrative situation could be.
Here are answers to four more questions posed in that post.
What kinds of problems could reading this story help someone solve?
This story could help a vulnerable young person without a trustworthy adult in her life who believes her (qualities/circumstances) and who must contend with a selfish person with power seizing her agency (problem). With those circumstances and that problem, the young person would be well served to know how to do the following things:
recognize dangerous situations
cope with the loss of childhood safety
trust one's instincts
take practical steps toward safety
identify adults that are untrustworthy
maintain hope while taking necessary but difficult actions
pack effectively and quickly when escaping
recognize that some adults who should protect you can’t or won’t
preserve some essence of childhood even when forced to grow up prematurely
find safe places and recognize them when you see them
What form might the narration take? Would it be written, spoken, something else?
My hypothesis is that the narrator would write this story down, make copies of it, and distribute it where vulnerable young people may find it. If a young person like the Antsy was sharing their problem with the narrator, they would become that trusted adult. They would immediately do what is needed to protect her, including seeing that she is taken somewhere safe. The text emphasizes what to do (actions) when there is no one to help. So it’s as if the narrator is writing this story knowing they won’t be there to guide the young person. (Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte is similar, though it’s written as if it’s a memoir in first person.)
Note: McGuire handles sexual abuse deftly and in an emotionally safe way. Antsy recognizes what will happen if she doesn’t leave, so the reader doesn’t have to watch Antsy suffer sexual abuse. The close third-person/selective omniscient point of view allows the reader to experience emotions (including relief and catharsis when Antsy prevails). At the same time, the choice of a fantasy story provides some emotional distance from the real-world problems the young person may be suffering. And the story-within-a-story structure of the shop of lost things creates a metaphor so the reader can watch Antsy work the problem in a world filled with curiosities and wonder. The clear and methodical prose mimics the voice of an instruction manual in the critical moments when Antsy must act in the midst of an engaging story.
In what context and circumstances might the narrator share this story?
The narrator appears to be sharing the information with a vulnerable person in case they need that information in the future. Young people who don’t have a trustworthy adult around need clear instructions, especially because no one would be present to help them make sense of more complicated ones. I don’t think the narrator is present because otherwise this would be more like a conversation in which the narrator tells the narratee the information they need instead of a story. This is part of why I think the narrative situation is in written form.
I could imagine a supportive librarian or teacher making a story like this available to students who need it. And it could be shared through online forums where young people often seek advice for problems they feel scared to speak about in person.
The story works on at least two levels. It is a well-crafted, exciting fantasy adventure story, but it also transmits wisdom and delivers effective instructions about how to respond when you’re in an abusive situation and don’t know what to do.
What kind of response or action would the narrator hope to inspire?
I think the narrator wants the narratee to have this information in case she needs it by keeping the written copy with her. The clear instructions are embedded within a fantasy story that inattentive and abusive adults won’t likely read. It’s the perfect vehicle for delivering advice and showing what’s possible.
The story shows Antsy building confidence step by step and learning to trust her abilities to plan and act independently. The reader can observe a working model of how to act in urgent and chronic situations and develop the awareness to spot when things are not right without panicking. She will come to understand that seeking safety isn’t a betrayal, which will help clarify her options. And she will know she is not alone, that other vulnerable people have faced similar situations and survived.
This post is part of a 75-day writing challenge and experiment. From September 9 through November 22, I'll be posting daily thoughts on writing, storytelling, and creativity based on recent readings or reflections. While my intention was to keep them very short—250 to 400 words—I've found that this range doesn't give me enough space to cover these topics adequately. I aim to keep them brief enough to be read quickly, but they will often be longer than 400 words.
At the end of the challenge, I will organize and revise the material with intention. For now, the object is to explore and share.