A lesson in narrative distance

Edward Hoagland uses narrative distance very effectively in his piece Nature’s See-Saw. The piece begins with narrator very close to the reader. The reader is close to the narrator both in space and in time as the narrator is describing the place where he lives currently. This works to engage the reader into the story.

 Hoagland then changes his narrative distance when he states the fact “wolves are increasing by 15 percent a year”.  This fact moves the narrator farther away emotionally from the reader. While this technique has the potential to turn a reader off and make them want to shut the book Hoagland is able to use this change in narrative distance to further engage the reader. This fact brings up questions for the reader and they want to know more.

 He proceeds to keep the narrator a bit emotionally removed from both the subject and the reader with the inclusion of specific facts about the various animals. However, Hoagland is careful to keep the reader close enough that the piece does not become too blunt or scientific. Hoagland accomplishes this by bringing himself back into the descriptions. An example of this is after Hoagland beautifully describes the bobcats he tells the reader “I hear them”. The inclusion of this personal “I” brings the narrator close to reader spatially and emotionally.

Hoagland also uses this narrative distance to explain the line between what is true fact and what is his interpretation of the fact. If the narrator were completely removed from the reader then this piece would be scientific and the reader would interpret all of the details as true fact. A clear example of this distinction between fact and his interpretation of truth through narrative distance is when Hoagland describes the red foxes. He describes the red foxes in such a way that the reader begins to feel like they are learning all the facts there are to know about this species. But then, just as the reader might be getting lost in the detail, Hoagland brings the reader back by relating the species to specific red foxes that he has encountered. This reminds the reader that we are learning about these animals through the experience of the writer. Hoagland is careful not to deceive the reader by presenting his view as fact. He effectively does this by maintaining some personal contact as the narrator. He mentions “so I have deer”. It is this possession that reminds the reader that the piece is really about his nature and his place. He continues this delicate balance of narrative voice throughout the piece..

            This play continues; the tug of war between Hoagland bringing you close enough to the narrator to get a taste and taking you back again to see his nature. At the conclusion of the piece he brings the narrator is very close to the reader. Hoagland’s use specific dollar amounts, for example, bring the narrator close to the reader because it establishes a sense of reliability. With this sense of reliability Hoagland is able to effectively drive his final point home.