Point of View and Narration

"The Star" is a first person narration by an astrophysicist who is also a Jesuit. The narrative unfolds for the reader the emotions of this individual as he tries to comes to terms with the knowledge he has gained on a scientific mission to a distant galaxy— knowledge that has caused him for the first time to question his faith.

Foreshadowing and Irony

In the course of the story, the reader is given clues to the ironic outcome of the story. One of the first occurs in the opening paragraph when the narrator says, " Once, I believed that space could have no power over faith . . . that the heavens declared the glory of God's handiwork" (emphasis added). He goes on to tell the reader that something has shaken that belief and left his faith "sorely troubled."

The narrative gradually reveals the information the narrator...