Point of View

Many of the stories are told by a storyteller. This narrator is typically not described but there are inferences that the individual has personal knowledge of the story and is either a friend of colleague of the principals. The storyteller often addresses the reader as "you would not believe." Gogol effectively brings the reader into the story with such cozy references. This style is essentially the narrative, omniscient point of view which allows the reader insight into each character's reactions and thoughts as the story moves forward. This bird's eye view creates suspense and anticipation of potential conflicts and misunderstandings among the characters.

In Ivan Fyodorovich Shponka and His Aunt, Gogol has an unnamed storyteller telling the story told to him by Stepan Ivanovich Kurochka. This layering of storytellers allows the unnamed tale teller to offer the caveat that he could have something wrong, bringing a...