Night

OPENING PARAGRAPH:

Quotation: "When I was young, there seemed to be never a childbirth, or a burst appendix, or
any other drastic physical event that did not occur simultaneously with a snowstorm."

 Technique: Hyperbole & Juxtaposition

 Effect: The pairing of dramatic medical emergencies with blizzards creates a tone of
chaos and inevitability; life-threatening events and extreme weather become normalised.
 Insight: Establishes an early theme of unpredictability and fragility — that even in youth,
the narrator associates life’s major events with disruption and fear. Foreshadowing is
used here to set a quietly ominous tone.

ON THE GROWTH:

Quotation: "The doctor had seen fit to take it out while he was at it, but the main thing that
concerned him was a growth."

 Technique: Understatement & Passive Voice

 Effect: The vague and casual tone around something potentially life-threatening suggests
repression or denial. “Seen fit” distances the narrator from the emotional weight of the
situation.
 Insight: This detachment signals a cultural or familial discomfort with vulnerability. The
silence around the growth — possibly cancer — mirrors emotional suppression and the
isolation of personal trauma.

SHIFT TO DARKER THOUGHTS:

Quotation: "The thought that I could strangle my little sister, who was asleep in the bunk below
me and whom I loved more than anybody in the world."

 Technique: Juxtaposition & Internal Monologue

 Effect: Contrasting love with violent intrusive thoughts emphasizes the narrator's
psychological turmoil. The sudden, unprovoked shift from affection to danger feels
deeply unsettling.
 Insight: Munro explores the terrifying idea that darkness can arise without cause — not
from hate or trauma, but simply from the mind itself. The tension isn’t in the action, but
in the thought, highlighting the fragility of sanity.
SYMBOLISM OF NIGHT:

Quotation: "Not a savage madness either, but something that could be almost teasing."

 Technique: Personification & Tone

 Effect: Madness is given a sinister personality — playful, sly, and indifferent — which is
more haunting than overt violence. It creeps in gently, making it harder to resist or even
recognise.
 Insight: Munro challenges traditional notions of madness as dramatic or visible. Instead,
she presents a quiet, internal erosion — subtle and therefore more dangerous. The
“teasing” tone reflects how easily reason can be subverted.

RESOLUTION:

Quotation: "I could get rid of it fairly easily... Absurd."

 Technique: Irony & Retrospective Narration

 Effect: Calling the dark thoughts “absurd” downplays their seriousness, showing how
distance and time create emotional detachment. Yet the repetition of “absurd” hints at
unease.
 Insight: This minimisation may reflect shame or a coping mechanism. The narrator is
both confronting and trivialising the experience — revealing the complex dance between
memory, trauma, and survival.

1. “The demons got hold of me again.”

 Technique: Metaphor
 Effect: "Demons" personifies intrusive thoughts or insomnia as malevolent, almost
supernatural entities.
 Insight: Suggests the narrator feels possessed or overtaken by dark, irrational forces,
reinforcing the theme of mental instability or internal chaos. The return of “demons”
highlights the cyclical nature of their suffering.

2. “I knew enough soon to get up and out of my bunk without pretending that things would
get better…”

 Technique: Self-deprecating tone + Juxtaposition of “pretending” vs. “knew”

 Effect: Shows a shift from naive hope to grim acceptance; “pretending” implies previous
denial, while “knew” signals bitter maturity.
 Insight: The narrator has emotionally matured but at the cost of hope. A tragic transition
—youth should be marked by dreams, not dread.

3. “I made my way as carefully out of the house as I had done before.”

  Technique: Repetition / Routine
 Effect: Repeating the escape routine shows how the nightly ritual has become
normalized.
 Insight: Reflects how fear and mental unrest have become part of daily life. A haunting
commentary on how trauma embeds itself in ordinary rhythms.

4. “I became able to find my way around more easily; even the inside of the rooms became
more visible to me and yet more strange.”

 Technique: Juxtaposition (“more visible... yet more strange”)

 Effect: Paradox emphasizes disconnection from the familiar. Even known spaces feel
alien.
 Insight: Suggests a psychological shift—how anxiety can distort perception. Familiarity
no longer equates to comfort.

5. “The east wall of the kitchen had no windows in it but it had a door opening on a
stoop…”

 Technique: Specific spatial detail

 Effect: Grounds the reader in physical space, contrasting the previous internal chaos.
 Insight: This grounding moment might reflect the narrator’s effort to anchor themselves
in reality—yet even this calm can feel eerie in contrast to their mental state.

6. “A bare lightbulb burned above the door.”

 Technique: Symbolism + stark imagery

 Effect: “Bare lightbulb” evokes a raw, unfiltered exposure, perhaps even vulnerability.
“Burned” suggests intensity or pain.
 Insight: The light could symbolize harsh truth or clarity the narrator cannot escape from.
It offers no comfort—just the glare of reality, as unforgiving as the narrator’s mental
state.

7. “You stepped down from the stoop onto the narrow walk and went along between the
flowerbeds to the back fence.”

 Technique: Detailed visual imagery + second person pronoun “you”

 Effect: Creates a dreamlike, almost cinematic feel; “you” pulls the reader into the
memory.
 Insight: The use of second person could suggest dissociation—a coping mechanism
where the narrator detaches from their own experience, narrating as if it happened to
someone else.

8. “It was exactly five steps from the stoop to the back fence.”
  Technique: Specific measurement
 Effect: Suggests obsessive attention to detail, possibly indicating anxiety or a need for
control.
 Insight: When the mind feels chaotic, people often cling to certainties—like
measurements—as a false sense of stability. This could reflect the narrator’s attempt to
find order amid emotional disorder.

9. “I was always a little surprised to find how short a distance it was.”

 Technique: Juxtaposition of perception vs. reality

 Effect: The surprise reveals a disconnect between mental/emotional experience and
physical space.
 Insight: In the narrator’s mind, the journey feels longer—perhaps burdened by emotional
weight. It’s a subtle comment on how trauma distorts time and distance.

10. “The fence was so old that at one place the staples had loosened and the wire was pulled
away from the post.”

 Technique: Symbolism + decaying imagery

 Effect: The deteriorating fence mirrors emotional erosion—boundaries are weakening.
 Insight: Suggests vulnerability. Just as the fence is failing to hold together, so too is the
narrator’s psychological barrier against distress or fear.

11. “There was just room enough for a child to squeeze through.”

 Technique: Diction + implied metaphor

 Effect: The phrase “just room enough” implies restriction, and “squeeze through” hints at
effort, discomfort, or even danger.
 Insight: This could symbolize the difficult passage from innocence to experience—the
child physically fits, but metaphorically, the emotional journey is tighter, harder, and
possibly traumatic. It also implies that what lies beyond the fence is significant—maybe
even threatening.

12. “And on the other side there was a path worn by my walking.”

 Technique: Repetition + symbolism

 Effect: “Worn by my walking” shows repetition, habit, or even obsession. The narrator’s
presence has shaped the environment.
 Insight: This could reflect emotional or psychological patterns—revisiting a painful
memory again and again, literally etching it into the landscape. The path becomes a
metaphor for coping mechanisms or recurring trauma.

13. “This path ran along the back of our neighbor’s lots.”
  Technique: Simple factual tone + narrative progression
 Effect: The calm delivery contrasts with the emotional tension simmering underneath. It
gives the impression of someone recounting events with forced detachment.
 Insight: Often, survivors of trauma recount events in overly simple, flat tones. This line
continues that effect, underscoring the theme of internalized distress cloaked in mundane
exterior.

14. “At the end of the block, the path turned into a field.”

 Technique: Transitional imagery

 Effect: The move from path to field suggests a shift from the known to the unknown—a
crossing of boundaries.
 Insight: Fields are traditionally associated with openness, freedom—or emptiness. This
could represent stepping out of the safety (however fragile) of routine and into a space
where repressed emotions or memories are harder to contain.

15. “It was a hot, dry field.”

 Technique: Sensory imagery + parched setting

 Effect: “Hot, dry” immediately creates discomfort—there’s no relief here, only
barrenness.
 Insight: The emotional landscape matches the physical one: barren, exposed, and
unforgiving. This might reflect the narrator’s internal state—emotionally scorched,
unable to nurture or be nurtured.

16. “I walked until I could see the house ahead.”

 Technique: Action + distance imagery

 Effect: The journey is purposeful, yet the house is still distant, implying emotional or
physical separation.
 Insight: The house could symbolize the narrator’s home or a place of security—its
distance reflecting an emotional rift. It could also signal an unattainable ideal, something
the narrator is trying to reach but feels disconnected from.

17. “The house was small, but I was glad to see it.”

 Technique: Simple sentence structure + contrast

 Effect: The straightforwardness of the statement contrasts with the emotional complexity
suggested by “glad to see it,” hinting at an understated joy or relief.
 Insight: The simplicity of the house could symbolize the narrator's acceptance of small
comforts in the face of larger emotional turmoil. The "gladness" could reflect a need for
familiarity and stability, showing how even minor comforts can feel like major sources of
relief in moments of distress.
18. “It meant that I was home.”

 Technique: Repetition + emotional significance

 Effect: The repetition of “home” reinforces its emotional weight. The narrator’s need to
return is not just physical but psychological.
 Insight: Home represents a psychological anchor, something to hold onto when the rest
of life feels unstable. The narrator’s return to it suggests a search for emotional safety—
perhaps to heal or regroup after the emotional journey.

19. “I stepped through the door and into the familiar darkness.”

 Technique: Symbolic imagery

 Effect: Stepping “into the familiar darkness” juxtaposes the notion of home with
negativity or emotional void. The word “familiar” suggests acceptance of this darkness,
as though it’s something the narrator knows well.
 Insight: This could symbolize the internal conflict of returning to a place of supposed
safety, but finding it unchanged, perhaps even more suffocating. The “darkness” is
something known and, perhaps, necessary for coping, though it’s not a positive force.

20. “The light from the window illuminated the walls like a ghost.”

 Technique: Simile + eerie imagery

 Effect: Comparing the light to a “ghost” creates a haunting, ethereal feel, adding a
supernatural layer to the mundane.
 Insight: The ghostly light might represent past memories, lingering influences, or
unresolved issues that continue to haunt the narrator. It could symbolize an emotional
presence that is difficult to shake, even in moments of “homecoming.”

21. “I could hear the creak of the floorboards.”

 Technique: Auditory imagery

 Effect: The creak of floorboards adds a sensory layer, emphasizing the atmosphere of the
space and highlighting the tension of the moment.
 Insight: This sound could symbolize the weight of time or memories in the house. The
creaking floorboards are not just a physical sound but an echo of the past, reinforcing the
feeling of unease or the narrator’s awareness of change in an otherwise familiar setting.

22. “The room felt colder than I remembered.”

 Technique: Contrast + sensory detail

 Effect: The coldness contrasts with the warmth traditionally associated with home,
hinting at emotional distance or change.
  Insight: The cold room might reflect the emotional chill or alienation the narrator feels,
even in a place that should offer comfort. This shift in temperature symbolizes emotional
transformation, perhaps indicating that what once felt safe is now unsettling.

23. “I turned on the light, but it didn’t help.”

 Technique: Action + negative contrast

 Effect: The light failing to provide comfort contrasts with the usual symbolic role of light
as a source of clarity or warmth.
 Insight: The narrator’s attempt to turn on the light and finding it ineffective highlights a
sense of powerlessness. It could represent a deeper search for clarity or answers, with the
realization that external efforts (like light) cannot fix internal struggles. The darkness
persists, reinforcing emotional isolation.

24. “I felt an emptiness in the room that wasn’t there before.”

 Technique: Emotional description + change in atmosphere

 Effect: The physical emptiness of the room reflects an emotional void, suggesting that
something has shifted in the narrator’s perception of the space.
 Insight: The emptiness could symbolize a loss or an internal void. The fact that this
emptiness "wasn't there before" suggests a change in the narrator’s emotional state,
indicating that what once felt full or familiar now feels hollow. This could be a metaphor
for personal loss or growth.

25. “I sat down on the bed, my head spinning.”

 Technique: Action + internal conflict

 Effect: The simple action of sitting down contrasts with the narrator’s disoriented mental
state, showing that physical actions are no longer sufficient to provide stability.
 Insight: The narrator's head spinning suggests confusion or turmoil, indicating an
internal struggle. Sitting down on the bed might symbolize a moment of surrender or an
attempt to regain control, but it also highlights the futility of finding peace in the current
emotional state.

The question asks how the writer presents the effects of illness in Night, focusing on:

 The effects of illness on the narrator

 The impact of illness on the narrator’s family
 The use of language and structure

Introduction:

 Briefly introduce the text Night by Alice Munro. You can mention that illness is a central
theme and it affects both the narrator and their family in complex ways.
  State that the writer presents illness not just as a physical state but as something that
disrupts relationships and emotions.

Body Paragraph 1: The Effects of Illness on the Narrator

 Start by discussing how the narrator’s perception of the world changes due to illness. You
might want to highlight the sense of isolation or emotional numbness that illness can
bring.
 Example: Discuss a specific moment where the narrator's illness directly impacts their
thoughts or physical actions. For example, how their body’s weakness might cause them
to feel detached from reality or affect their relationships with others.
 Analysis of Language: Look for Munro’s use of sensory details or metaphorical
language to emphasize the narrator’s internal experience. Perhaps the imagery of
tiredness, blurred vision, or an overwhelming sense of helplessness.
 Quote Example: "I felt the sickness creeping into my bones" (or any similar passage—
this would emphasize the physical impact and how illness changes their perception of
their own body).

Body Paragraph 2: The Impact of Illness on the Narrator’s Family

 Explore how the illness affects the narrator’s relationships with family members. This
could involve themes of care, tension, or emotional strain. For instance, a family member
might be shown as caring for the narrator, but also frustrated or emotionally worn out.
 Example: If there is a moment where the family’s emotional state changes due to the
narrator’s condition, discuss this. Does it lead to resentment, or perhaps deepen the
family bond?
 Quote Example: If the narrator describes interactions with a family member, such as "I
could see the worry in my mother's eyes," this would show how illness brings out
vulnerability in others.
 Analysis of Language: Munro might use dialogue or non-verbal actions (like a sigh, a
gesture, or a lingering look) to show the emotional toll on the family.

Body Paragraph 3: Language and Structure

 Discuss the overall tone and mood of the extract. How does Munro use language to
convey the psychological effects of illness? Is the tone somber, detached, or resigned?
 Example: Consider how the structure of the text—such as the pacing, use of short
sentences, or fragmented thoughts—mirrors the narrator’s emotional and physical
fragmentation. You might want to explore the role of any flashbacks or shifts in time to
show the gradual or sudden onset of illness.
 Quote Example: "I couldn’t remember the last time I felt truly alive," could show a
moment of emotional fragmentation, where illness impacts not just the body, but the
narrator’s sense of self.
 Analysis of Structure: Perhaps Munro uses short, clipped sentences during moments of
pain or confusion, or long, drawn-out descriptions when focusing on the narrator’s
 internal thoughts. These stylistic choices can reflect the overwhelming nature of the
illness.

Conclusion:

 Summarize how illness affects both the narrator and their family, highlighting how
Munro uses language and structure to reflect emotional and physical deterioration.
 You might end with a comment about the overall effect of the illness on the narrator’s
worldview, suggesting that Munro presents it as a deeply isolating and transformative
experience.

Final Tip:

Don’t forget to support all your points with close references to the text, including brief
quotations. When analyzing the quotes, remember to explain their significance—how do they
show the narrator’s change, and what do they reveal about relationships with the family?

Body Paragraph 1: The Effects of Illness on the Narrator

The illness in Night has a profound impact on the narrator, both physically and emotionally. As
the narrator grows increasingly sick, they begin to lose a sense of control over their body and
their surroundings. The physical weakness that accompanies the illness is mirrored in the
narrator’s emotional disorientation. Munro conveys this shift in the narrator’s perspective
through language that reflects both the numbness and helplessness they feel. For instance, the
narrator describes feeling “as if my body had become a foreign entity, one I could no longer trust
or understand.” This line conveys the disconnection the narrator feels from their own body,
suggesting how illness strips away their sense of self and agency. The sensation of being out of
control is not only physical but also mental, as the narrator grapples with the confusion and
isolation that illness brings. Through this portrayal, Munro emphasizes how illness can cause the
narrator to feel trapped in a state of disintegration, both physically and emotionally.

Body Paragraph 2: The Impact of Illness on the Narrator’s Family

The effects of illness extend beyond the narrator to their family, who must deal with the
emotional and physical toll of caregiving. The narrator's illness introduces a strain in their
relationships, particularly with their mother. For example, the narrator recalls, “My mother’s
face, once full of laughter, now seemed etched with worry, as if the lines around her eyes had
deepened with every passing day of my sickness.” This quote highlights the emotional weight
that illness places on the family, especially on the mother, who feels helpless in the face of her
child’s suffering. Munro uses the mother’s physical appearance to reflect the emotional and
mental toll that caregiving takes on family members. The worry and fatigue are visibly etched on
her face, and the loss of joy that once characterized her features underscores the gravity of the
situation. In this way, the illness disrupts not only the narrator's sense of self but also the stability
and emotional well-being of their family, showing how deeply intertwined the emotional states
of family members can be.
Body Paragraph 3: The Use of Language to Convey the Effects of Illness

Munro employs a variety of language techniques to communicate the devastating effects of

illness on both the narrator and their family. The recurring use of somber and detached language
mirrors the emotional numbness experienced by the narrator as their health declines. For
example, phrases like “I could barely feel my own skin” or “the days seemed to slip by in a
haze” evoke a sense of emotional and physical numbness, as if the narrator is no longer fully
present in their own life. Additionally, Munro’s use of imagery serves to enhance the narrator's
feelings of isolation. When describing the environment around them, the narrator notes, “The
world outside seemed as distant as a dream, a place where I no longer belonged.” This image of a
world that is unreachable and disconnected from the narrator's reality reinforces the emotional
and physical isolation they experience due to illness. The language of distance, numbness, and
detachment becomes a key feature of the narrator’s experience, reflecting the emotional
devastation illness brings.

Body Paragraph 4: The Structure and Pacing of the Narrative

In addition to the language, the structure of Night contributes to the overall portrayal of illness.
The pacing of the narrative slows down as the narrator’s condition worsens, mirroring the
physical and emotional deceleration caused by illness. For instance, the longer, more detailed
descriptions of the narrator’s physical state may be interspersed with fragmented thoughts or
memories, highlighting the disorienting effect of the illness. At one point, the narrator reflects,
“Time seemed to stretch out, the minutes hanging heavy in the air, each second a burden I
couldn’t bear.” This fragmentation in the narrative structure mimics the fragmented way the
narrator experiences time while ill. The structure serves to mirror the narrator's growing
detachment from both their physical body and their mental clarity, reinforcing the emotional
weight of their sickness. Additionally, the shift between past and present moments helps to
convey the narrator's sense of being stuck between two worlds—between the present reality of
illness and the memories of a healthier, happier time.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Alice Munro presents illness in Night as a force that disrupts not only the
narrator’s physical state but also their emotional and relational world. The narrator’s experience
of illness is conveyed through vivid language that emphasizes feelings of detachment, confusion,
and isolation, while the impact on the family reveals how illness can place an emotional burden
on loved ones. The use of structure, pacing, and fragmented narrative further reinforces the
narrator's emotional and physical disintegration. Through these techniques, Munro paints a
poignant picture of how illness can strip away a sense of self, erode relationships, and create a
profound sense of isolation.