The Boarded Window
Like an urban legend forest a metaphor Questions to ask yourself: 1) Whose narrative is it? 2) If Murlock exists, what is the sequence of action of his wife's death and the panther incident - was it a dream? Why? Why not? 3) Why a panther? 4) How does magic realism apply esp. w.r.t. the boarded window? Notes from class discussion: like an urban legend forest metaphor for Murlock - difficult to understand, dark, mysterious Vivid description, but narrator has never seen him: says true story but no premise rumors - that the cabin is haunted story heard by grandfather in his childhood keeps saying "should have been told," as I "should remember" no known records of wife but "willing, worthy of love" etc. - how do we know? word play; we imagine details, but could be Murlock's imagination