The King Must Die

What is the author's style in The King Must Die by Mary Renault?

Asked by
Last updated by Jill W
1 Answers
Log in to answer

The point of view in the story is told in past tense. It is told from the character Theseus as an old man looking back on his life. The reader sees that Theseus will very often interrupt his story so that he can tell something that happened later on in his life that may have been connected to the events he is telling about. The story is omniscient from Theseus' point of view but limited from all others. The reader will be left to wonder about the thoughts and actions of the other characters in the story but the thoughts of Theseus are reliable and constant although the reader doesn't hear all the things that Theseus hears and occasionally will only get descriptions from Theseus.

The story is told from someone looking back on events that have happened and much of the story is descriptions and facts with little dialogue. Occasional the narrator explains that he can't remember what happened exactly in between two events or that something isn't clear in his mind but other things from that particular moment are perfectly clear. The point of view occasionally will leave the reader guessing at motive and circumstances but the overall effect is easily read and enjoyable.

Source(s)

The King Must Die, BookRags