Answer to Question #300045 in English for PHUMZILE ZONDI

Question

 As I'm sure you've noticed, most of the history of the Baudelaire orphans is organized sequentially, a word which here means "so that the events in the lives of Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are related in the order in which they occurred." In the case of the next three chapters, however, the story is organized simultaneously, which means that you do not have to read the chapters in the order in which they appear. In chapter four, you may find the story of Violet Baudelaire's journey up to the rooftop sunbathing salon, and the unpleasant conversation she had occasion to overhear. In chapter five, you may read about Klaus's experience with certain members of the lumber industry, and a sinister plot that was devised right in front of his nose.

The text above is a good example of postmodern children’s literature. Explain why this is?

Answer 1

Postmodern literature is a form of literature that is characterized by the use of metafiction, unreliable narration, self-reflexivity, intertextuality, and which often thematizes both historical and political issues. This style of experimental literature emerged strongly in the United States in the 1960s through the writings of authors such as Kurt Vonnegut, Thomas Pynchon, William Gaddis, Philip K. Dick, Kathy Acker, and John Barth. Postmodernists often challenge authorities, which has been seen as a symptom of the fact that this style of literature first emerged in the context of political tendencies in the 1960s. This inspiration is, among other things, seen through how postmodern literature is highly self-reflexive about the political issues it speaks to.

It talks more of the past, of the events in the lives of Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are related in the order in which they occurred showing children how events used to occur. It explains about journey up to the rooftop sunbathing salon, and the unpleasant conversation she had occasion to overhear which leaves children with impression. It also talks about economy on lumber industry, and betrayal events by sinister plot that was devised right in front of his nose.