Shannon Davis - Narrative Structure in The Poisonwood Bible March 17, 2014

The entire novel, The Poisonwood Bible, has unique narrative structure, alluding to the
bible. It serves these allusions through five different narrators, serving to enhance the moral of
the story.
One unique narrative structure in this novel is that it is told from first-person point of
view, but from several different characters. This allows us to experience the story through many
eyes, giving it more reliability. Because we are able to experience the story from five of the
characters, we have a better understanding of their personalities and opinions of the Congo,
Nathan, and each other. Instead of it being biased from one character, you are able to form your
own opinion of all the characters. Also, the characters strong difference in personalities helps to
portray the authors message and makes the story more interesting.
Another unique narrative structure in The Poisonwood Bible is the chapters, or books, of
the novel are titled after books from the bible. These allusions help to represent the relationship
of the novel to stories from the bible. Book one in this novel is titled Genesis. In the bible, this
is also the very first book, representing the beginning of time. In the novel, this book talks about
the Price familys journey to the Congo and how their belongings no longer have any
significance to their new life. This causes them to start a new beginning, adapting to the ways of
the culture. In the second book, The Revelation represents the Congos Independence from
Belgium. In the bible, Revelation was where they predicted the apocalypse and the restoration of
Gods kingdom on Earth. The third book, Judges is where Leah and her father, Nathan, begin
to break apart from each other. In the bible, this book tells of the long and intense struggle of the
Israelites.
Comment [S1]: Reword without using this
Comment [S2]: Replace you and your and
change phrase to it allows an own opinion of the
characters to be formed.
Comment [S3]: Elaborate on what the message
is and howthe author portrays it through literary
devices.
Comment [S4]: Delete.
Comment [S5]: Re-word to make the
introduction of the bible first, then the chapter of
the book.
Comment [S6]: Delete In and start with The
The fourth book, Bel and the Serpent, represents the story told in the bible of Daniel
exposing a false god using ashes to show his footprints. Leah and her sisters help Nelson
discover who is setting him up to die by doing the same thing. The book of Exodus in the bible
tells about the Israelites escape from Egypt after being enslaved there. In the novel, this is when
Orleanna and her children escape from Nathan. The last book, Song of the Three Children and
The Eyes in the Trees, reveals the perspectives of the three daughters after they have escaped
from the Congo and from their father. It alludes to the story in the bible called "The Song of the
Three Young Men. It is about a song of praise and thanksgiving sung by three men who
survived after being punished for refusing to worship an idol.
The last book, The Eyes in the Trees symbolizes Ruth May and is told from her
perspective. She is forgiving Orleanna and is telling her to move on from the past. Having Ruth
May end the book helps with narrative structure because it serves as a closure.
Comment [S7]: Add sentence before that
explains Exodus as the next chapter in the novel.
Comment [S8]: Return back to the message of
the story as a whole.