Structure

Alison Bechdel tells her memoir “Fun Home: A Tragicomic” in the first-person reflective narrative. Bechdel wrote the book in 2006, decades after the events of the memoir took place. Considering that the memoir is an autobiographical book, it is only natural that Bechdel should address the events of her own life in her own voice in the first-person. The fact that the memoir is told years after the events is indicative of the reflective tone of the narration. Indeed, Bechdel often steps into unfolding events to provide context based on information she learned much later, such as her father’s illicit sexual relationships with underage boys.

Perspective

Bechdel tells her memoir “Fun Home: A Tragicomic” in language that is dense and highly educated. Bechdel loves literature, so it is only natural that her intelligence, strong vocabulary, and literary references appear in her writing. This is especially true given...