Open Prompt #3 (Revision) -Mar. 17-

1986. Some works of literature use the element to time in a distinct way. The chronological  sequence of  events may be altered, or time may be suspended or accelerated. Choose a novel, an epic, or a play of recognized literary merit and show how the author's manipulation of time contributes to the effectiveness of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.

The novel Gentlemen & Players by Joanne Harris is written so that the story is not exactly told in chronological order. Rather than having the story written straight through, Harris writes in two different perspectives that take place in two different times and switch constantly back and forth. One comes from one of the teachers, Roy Straitley, at St. Oswalds school (which is one of the main settings of the story). The other comes from someone who goes by the name Snyde (The identity of the second isn't revealed until later in the book), who sneaks into St. Oswalds and pretends to be one of the students. Straitley's perspective comes from the present, unlike Snyde's, which comes from the past. The alternation between the two time periods greatly contributes to the novel, allowing for a more detailed back story and clarity, despite the constant switch between the two speakers. The changes in time also adds more mystery to the book, leaving the reader confused at parts, as well as building up to the end of the novel.

The switches between the two time periods allow for the reader to have a more detailed back story to the main conflict in the book. Since it's constantly switching, it allows for both stories to have an equal amount of time to play out. Through this, you are able to see elements of Snyde's past that ultimately effects them in the future. For example, the abuse they faced as a child from their father who would care for them on minute and then would be beating them the next. Another example would be the love they felt for Leon Mitchell. They had fallen for Leon, but he had a girlfriend. Yet, once Leon found out that Snyde was a girl (he had originally thought that she was a boy because she had been dressing up as one) he freaked out, leaving Snyde with a feeling of betrayal. The detailed back story allows the reader to understand certain things that come up in the present perspective.

The switches also make the story clearer, Snyde's story from the past explains what's going on the in the future. For example,  the story explains why Snyde is out to ruin St. Oswalds. In the past perspective, it shows that Snyde was the reason why Leon Mitchell fell off of the roof of St. Oswalds. It explains that Snyde blames this accident on St. Oswalds, and so shows why the events in the present are happening. Another example shows why Snyde targets Straitley in the present. According to the past perspective, Straitley was the one that scared Leon and Snyde, forcing them to jump the gap that killed Leon. This explains why Snyde messes with Straitley in the present, they force him to think that students steal his stuff and makes him look like he dislikes Jewish people.

Overall, the alteration of events chronologically helps contribute to the effectiveness Gentlemen & Players. The time switches creates mystery, the sudden changes and vague points in the plot creates confusion for the reader. The lack of clarity creates suspense, the past plot points become clearer as more of the plot is revealed, making the reader wonder how the past effects the future. It  also adds more to the story as well as helps explain many elements of the story to the reader, despite the continuous switching between time periods.