POV
What is third person limited?
A narrative perspective where the narrator isn't a character in the story and limits to one character's thoughts or actions
What does the snow represent?
It represents Paul's inner silence and his retreat from the jarring noises of reality
What setting does the story start in?
The text starts from Paul's classroom, a mundane setting that establishes normalcy before the dreaminess of the snowy world intrudes
How is the real world described?
Mention senses: defined by types of intrusive and harsh sounds
Where is the reality? What is Paul's inner world?
Paul's house and school represents the "ordinary world". Paul's imagination of the world of snow represents his inner world of secrecy, silence, and pleasure.
Who is Paul?
A twelve year old grade schooler who creates an inner snow world. The narration follows his descent and gradual submersion in this inner world.
How is the snow changing Paul's perception of the world?
The snow is a protection, a barrier from the outside world. It is the imagination that Paul immerses in, which blocks him from the reality and blurs his senses.
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How does the Postman solidify Paul's character?
The Postman's footsteps slowly fade as he approaches the door, signifying Paul's drift into his inner world. Additionally, this attention to detail highlights his heightened senses, especially to tiny details in his outer world.
Describe Paul's inner world. What's special about it?
This is an open-ended question. E.g. you can mention the author's word choice of lyrical, hushed, etc.
Why is Silent Snow Secret Snow not a third person omniscient perspective?
Although it narrates all of Paul's thoughts and reasoning, it limits us from seeing other characters' thoughts such as the doctor and Paul's parents.
What is the effect of describing the snow's behavior when Paul's mother came in within Chapter IV?
The snow became less powerful, it "drew back hissing", symbolizing how reality's intrusion is devastating to Paul's imagination. (Can also extend to stuff like it exaggerates the distance between Paul's inner space and the real world through the violent depiction of his mom's entrance)
What does the juxtaposition between the serious and unserious attitudes when Paul meets the doctor suggest about Paul's imagination?
Paul giggles at the doctor and then shifts his attention to snow frequently, resembling how natural Paul gets into his imagination and his instinct of escaping reality. The contrast in seriousness presents how Paul's inner world cannot be simply interpreted or diagnosed.
How is silence significant to Paul?
The silence grows deeper through the story, and grows to be more meaningful to Paul than any other real sound. It is a symbol of his desire to escape the loud and intrusive outer world.
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Is Paul a reliable narrator? Why or why not (support with evidence).
As long as it makes sense.
TRIVIA QUESTION!!!
How many times did the word "snow" (as an independent word, so snowy, snowing doesn't count) appear in the entire text? Exclude the titles. An answer within the range of 10 is acceptable.
40
What is the purpose of Chapter IV, connecting to the topic of snow?
It ends up with a resolution which Paul finally gets to immerse himself fully with the scene of snow in his imagination. It serves the idea that isolation is also enjoying life, but living only in the mind.
How does Paul characterise his worlds through sensory descriptions? How does the balance change through the story?
How is the reality described? How is it unpleasant to Paul?
Mention details. Compare the calming and peaceful traits of the inner with the loud, bleak, and unappealing outer reality
What role does third person limited have in Paul's descent?
Third person limited both narrates as if Paul is referring to himself in his mind but also limits our perspective to Paul's perception of the world, creating a barrier between his inner world and the exterior and in contrast, an intimacy between the reader and Paul in this narration.
How does snow represent isolation, transformation, or refuge from the reality, in coherence with Paul's interaction with details in the outer world as well as the submersion into his inner world?
As long as it makes sense, it will be accepted.
Explain the effect of the contrast of pacing and syntax in the story (Long, inscrutable sentences when imagining, and short, direct messages when describing school life).
Long sentences, slow pace -> Immersed, complete and vivid imagination of snow. The details of reality supports this delicate piece of art within Paul's mind.
Short sentences, fast pace -> Paul is not interested in the school subjects, and wishes to spend more time on his imagination.
How is sensory withdrawal portrayed in Paul's story?
Paul perceives reality through a muffled and distant lens, similar to that of a snow wall. He turns his focus inward, narrating his snowy world significantly more than his parents and teacher in the outer world. The author depicts his withdrawal and his mental condition through the "coolness" of the inner world, an implication of his diversion from shared reality.
What happens to Paul in the end? How is it seen as constraint and/or freedom?
Paul submerges fully in his inner snowy world, which at the end, appears to be more real than the "reality" of the outside world. Argue either constraint, freedom, or both and provide evidence.