Atonement: Writer's Techniques

Atonement: Writer’s Techniques

• Structure: The structure of Atonement is complex, shifting between time periods, locations, and perspectives to convey the story’s full scope and emotional impact.
• Atmosphere: The atmosphere and mood of Atonement varies greatly throughout the text, from a bucolic summer’s day to the harrowing realities of World War II, reflecting the characters’ emotional states and the changing nature of their circumstances.
• Narrative: The narrative in Atonement plays with the concepts of truth and reality, utilising unreliable narrators and shifting perspectives to question the reliability of memory and the power of storytelling.
• Language: The language of Atonement is carefully crafted to reflect the age, social status, and emotional state of the characters, with an eye towards revealing their inner thoughts and feelings.
• Imagery: Atonement makes extensive use of imagery to depict its characters’ experiences and states of mind, using powerful visual descriptions to convey both the beautiful and the horrific aspects of their lives.
• Symbolism: Throughout Atonement, McEwan uses various symbols, such as the vase, the fountain, and the word ‘C,’ to represent themes of brokenness, guilt, innocence, and the power of language.