Frankenstein by Mary Shelley tells the story of Robert Walton, his sister, Victor Frankenstein and his monster. The story is told through Robert's letters home to his sister. There are three encapsulated stories within the novel and it is told in an Epistolary frame. Frankenstein can be used to look at the complexity of Frame narratives and how the use of the devices allows for character interaction. The story starts with Robert going off on a sea voyage and writing letters to his sister. When they come across a wayward traveler who is ill. Through the Robert's letters readers are introduced to Victor and his creation. The story is told through Roberts letters, but read from Victor's point of view. In times the story is hard to follow, but truly this is based on the readers perspective.
The Princess Bride by William Goldman is tells the story of two young lovers who lose and find love again. Throughout the story the reader encounters revenge, true love, evil princes, a band of kidnappers, and the Dread Pirate Roberts. The story starts by William Goldman, as a fictional character, recounting a story that his father read to him when he was sick; however come to find out the story his father tells is the abbreviated story and only includes the fun parts. The novel can be classified into a variety of Frame narratives. The encapsulated story is; a nested story, a story as an object, as well as a found narrative. The Princess Bride is a great example to use to compare the film representation and the novel to look at what readers have seen and heard to what they have read.
A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly is a historical fiction novel set in 1906. Mattie has a duty to her family to stay on the family farm and work, but then she receives a full scholarship to Bernard College. Mattie struggles with the choice to leave home and go to college or to stay. Over the summer she choses to work at a local hotel to earn money. When one of the guests ends up dead, Mattie realizes she hasn't burned the letters the guest had given her earlier in the week. Mattie uses the letters to help solve the death of Grace Brown, and in the end is able to make the decision to stay or go. The story is told as an Epistolary Frame, with letters interspersed throughout the story. The novel could be looked at to see how Epistolary frames could be constructed differently especially in connection to Frankenstein.
Kit's Wilderness by David Almond is the story of a young boy who has to move to an old mining town in order to help support his grandfather. As Kit is transitioning with the new move he learns the history of the town through the game "Death" and John Askew. The story takes the shape of a Frame narrative through a variety of modes, the story is a nest story, an epigraphic story, and applies the story as an object. Kit's Wilderness also exemplifies the idea of Meta-Fictional Exploration. Kit uses a short story that he has written himself and the stories his grandfather tells him of the past to reach out the Askew and bring him home. Kit's Wilderness allows for interaction with the writing process and can lend to the creation of a narrative piece.
The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer is a way to look at oral traditions and how story telling was a way to pass time. The first prologue is an introduction to how the pilgrims are brought together. From then on each character has their own tale to tell on the journey to Canterbury, it was decided that each traveler would have a chance to tell four stories. Many of the stories told are in direct response to the previous story, either agreeing or trying to refute what has been told. The novel is written as a nested story, as well as a found narrative. The prologue to the story gives a justification for why the characters are telling stories while on their journey, and each character becomes a storyteller. However, the story is written in poems with short prose so it may be difficult to translate each story.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is the story of Nick Carraway and his infamous neighbor Jay Gatsby. Nick Carraway is narrating the story of Gatsby's life leading to his death. Gatsby is a rich self made man who is desperate to see his true love once again, who conveniently lives directly across the waterway from his house. Gatsby is very lavish in the parties he throws and aims to be noticed. The novel is written as a frame piece that emphasizes a found Narrative, at the start of the novel Carraway is setting the novel up with a justification or explanation for why he is writing his story.
The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County by Mark Twain is a short story about a gentleman from the East who is writing a letter about a man he met in the West, Simon Wheeler. The man from the East is tricked into asking Wheeler about Rev. Leonidas Smiley, who is mistaken for Jim Smiley, a betting fiend. Wheeler tells many tales about Jim Smiley and his crazy gambling. The short story is set up as a nested story, the gentleman from the East is recounting the stories of Jim Smiley as told by Simon Wheeler. The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County could be used to look at how a frame narrative can be used within a short story. In my opinion, the story wasn't very confusing. The dialect, the story was written in, could be a little difficult at times however, the story line was not confusing.
The Three Pigs by David Wiesner is the story of the three little pigs, but it is not the traditional story. The three little pigs leave their story and travel into other nursery rhyme tales, such as Hey Diddle Diddle and The Dragon and The Golden Rose. The story is told as an epigraphic frame. The pigs are separate from the new stories, but are able to take others from their own tales and place them into new ones. Yet, the original story still continues on. This story I found a bit confusing, it was hard to follow along with where the pigs were going.
Merlin and the Dragons By Jane Yolen and illustrated by Li Ming is the story of young King Arthur and his court magician Merlin. The story is written as a nested frame narrative and an explication frame. Through the story, Merlin tells young King Arthur he is supposed to learn a lesson that will help him become more adjusted to being a young ruler. Merlin tells Arthur about a young boy who has dreams about two dragons who will dual and be the destruction of the High King. Young King Arthur is supposed to embrace his dreams and be himself no matter what. The children's book could be used to look at the theme of bravery and how a frame narrative was a way to lead to the finding of the theme.
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judy Barrett is a nested story, The Grandfather is telling a bedtime tale to his grandchildren. The tale is of a town where it rains food, but soon the weather becomes too uncontrollable. The story is not confusing at all and very enjoyable. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs has been made into a motion picture and the sequel has recently came out.
Aunt Isabel Makes Trouble by Kate Duke is the story of Aunt Isabel and Penelope who are creating a story of a mouse named Nell. Nell is the star pitcher for the Wast Woods Nutball team. When Nell sees a poster advertising Prince Augustus' birthday, Nell suddenly remembers what day it is. Unfortunately, it is the very day Cocky the Roach and his gang have gone on a rampage through the woods. It is up to Nell to stop Cocky and his gang and make it to the Princes' party on time. Aunt Isabel Makes Trouble is told as a Nested Frame with Aunt Isabel telling the story to Penelope, while Penelope will add tidbits to the tale. The story could be used to look at the telling and creating of an oral story.
The Summer My Father Was Ten by Pat Brisson is a story of a young girl who is telling a narrative of her father and his childhood neighbor. Readers learn how the young girl's father becomes an avid gardener. It was during the time her father and a group of his friends destroyed his neighbors garden. In exchange her father decides to help his neighbor regrow the garden the following spring. The Summer My Father Was Ten is a frame narrative that uses the method of a found narrative and gives an explanation for why she is telling the story of the summer her father was ten.