Book Anatomy · A Princess of Mars
A Princess of Mars: Viewpoint and narration
14 lenses on viewpoint and narration for A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Count lenses are exact for our text. AI lenses are our reading and cite only quotes that passed a word for word check.
Jump to: E1 E2 E3 E4 E5 E6 E7 E8 E9 E10 E11 E12 E13 E14
E1. Person and tense: first or third, past or present. Count
First person, past tense. In the narration, past forms come 1,954 times and present forms 259 times.
E2. Whose viewpoint is each chapter? Both
first person. See the full lens on the book page.
E3. Share of the book told by each viewpoint character. Both
The entire book is told by John Carter. No other viewpoint character appears. Carter's perspective is exclusive throughout all 28 chapters.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 2, Ch 3, Ch 4, Ch 5, Ch 6
E4. Narrative distance: close inside a head, or far off? AI
The narrative stays close inside Carter's head. Readers see his thoughts, feelings, and immediate sensations. Distance is intimate throughout, with Carter's voice dominant.
Chapters: Ch 3, Ch 10, Ch 13, Ch 14
I knew that I was on Mars; not once did I question either my sanity or my wakefulness (Ch 3, para 2)
I could not chance causing her additional pain or sorrow by declaring a love which, in all probability she did not return. (Ch 14, para 2)
I felt the steel tear into my chest, all went black before me, my head whirled in dizziness, and I felt my knees giving beneath me. (Ch 14, para 61)
E5. Strict viewpoint or head hopping? AI
Strict viewpoint maintained. Carter never enters another character's mind. Readers learn others' thoughts only through dialogue or Carter's inference from behaviour.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 2, Ch 3, Ch 4, Ch 5, Ch 6
E6. Is the narrator reliable? Where are the cracks? AI
Carter is mostly reliable but shows bias toward Dejah Thoris and against Martian cruelty. His judgements of character prove sound. No major cracks in reliability appear.
Chapters: Ch 11, Ch 13, Ch 14, Ch 22
I could not chance causing her additional pain or sorrow by declaring a love which, in all probability she did not return. (Ch 14, para 2)
I am as good as married, John Carter. No longer may you call me your princess. No longer are you my chieftain. (Ch 22, para 42)
E7. Frames and tales within tales. AI
No frames or tales within tales. Carter tells his own story directly without nested narratives or other storytellers.
E8. Narrator asides and addresses to the reader. Both
3 paragraphs where the narrator seems to speak to the reader or about the telling. (rough estimate from word lists)
Ch 5, para 14: Slowly and carefully, therefore, I gained my feet, only to see that my watcher did the same; cautiously I advanced toward him, finding that by moving with a …
Ch 7, para 24: Her prize consisted in a male about four feet tall, very strong and physically perfect; also, he learned quickly, and we had considerable amusement, at least I did, …
Ch 10, para 13: Had a green Martian woman desired to show dislike or contempt she would, in all likelihood, have done it with a sword thrust or a movement of her …
Carter addresses the reader directly in chapter 1 and 28, speaking as an old man reflecting on his past. He uses phrases like 'as I afterward learned' and 'I believe that they are waiting.'
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 28
I am a very old man; how old I do not know. Possibly I am a hundred, possibly more (Ch 1, para 2)
I believe that they are waiting there for me, and something tells me that I shall soon know. (Ch 28, para 16)
E9. Documents used: letters, diaries, reports, by type and sender. Both
How often each kind of document is named in the narration. (rough estimate from word lists)
| Document | Mentions |
|---|---|
| will | 15 |
| note | 9 |
| report | 5 |
| letter | 3 |
| manuscript | 2 |
No documents appear. The book contains no letters, diaries, reports, or written records from other sources.
E10. What the narrator hides, and where the reader knows more than the lead. AI
Readers know nothing more than Carter. His ignorance of Martian customs, Sola's parentage, and the atmosphere factory's function matches the reader's discovery.
Chapters: Ch 4, Ch 7, Ch 15, Ch 20
E11. Free indirect style: where the narrator slips into a character's voice. AI
Free indirect style appears when Carter reports Martian speech patterns and philosophy. Chapter 9 shows Sola's voice blending with Carter's narration. a later part uses a Martian saying.
Chapters: Ch 9, Ch 13
Oh, it is one continual, awful period of bloodshed from the time we break the shell until we gladly embrace the bosom of the river of mystery (Ch 9, para 18)
A warrior may change his metal, but not his heart,’ as the saying is upon Barsoom. (Ch 13, para 19)
E12. How thought is shown: tagged, italic or blended. Count
Thought is mostly shown with tags like thought, wondered, reflected.
| Tag | Times |
|---|---|
| thought | 40 |
| wondered | 0 |
| reflected | 0 |
| said to himself | 0 |
| said to herself | 0 |
| asked himself | 0 |
| asked herself | 0 |
| told himself | 0 |
E13. What triggers each change of viewpoint? AI
No viewpoint changes occur. Carter remains the sole narrator throughout. The narrative never shifts to another character's perspective.
E14. Hindsight: where an older narrator comments on events. AI
Hindsight commentary appears throughout. Carter as old man reflects on his younger self's ignorance. Chapter 28 shows him wondering about outcomes. Chapter 1 frames the entire story.
Chapters: Ch 1, Ch 28
I am a very old man; how old I do not know. Possibly I am a hundred, possibly more (Ch 1, para 2)
I believe that they are waiting there for me, and something tells me that I shall soon know. (Ch 28, para 16)
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