“Full of, unknowing and unknown,
He wore his endless noons alone,
Amid th’ autumnal wood:
Oft was he wont in hasty fit.
Abrupt the social board to quit.”
This excerpt literally describes La Motte’s behaviour during the following chapter. I think these excerpts are a reliable way to frame the reader’s mind for what is about to happen. I don’t think they are necessary for the story but they are definitely a welcome addition. I wonder if Radcliffe searched for excerpts that fit her story or based the story on the excerpts.
I agree with you that the poetry at the beginning of the chapters is used to frame the reader’s mind. There are so many different plot twists, characters, and small but significant details throughout the novel. The reader could easily lose sight of an important part by focusing on another part instead. I feel like Radcliffe’s use of the poems were a way to bring the reader to what they needed to see. By framing the reader’s mind, she could make sure they focused on, and understood, the significance of events in that chapter.
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ReplyDeleteThe Macbeth quote really worked. It did a good job of setting up what La Mott and Adaline were going through.
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