Mothership : first person child narrators : unreliable and flawed? : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in Creative Writing at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand. EMBARGOED until 6th January 2026.
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2023
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Massey University
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Abstract
This thesis consists of two parts: a creative part titled Mothership and a critical component: "First person child narrators: unreliable and flawed?" Both these components are interested in child narrators and the impact their unreliability has on the text and the reader. The critical component considers what we mean by the unreliable narrator, the tools that the writer may employ when their narrator is unreliable and how these tools enhance the text. Two novels that employ child narrators are examined: Room by Emma Donoghue, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. The child narrators from these novels, Jack and Christopher respectively may be said to be unreliable on two levels: because they are children, and because of extreme limitations in environment, in Jack's case, and ASD in Christopher's. This unreliability is used to create tension, to undercut melodrama, to foster intimacy, and enhance an emotional connection with the reader, and for other effects. Their unreliable narration helps build tension through the sharing of information in the form of clues, secrets and collaborations between reader, the implied author, other characters and the unreliable narrators themselves. The reader applies these clues and insights to the text as a whole, thus creating a feedback loop (Phelan 91). The creative work, Mothership is part of a novel of 100,000 words, in three parts. Because of the word count restrictions in the MCW, only the first 14 chapters have been submitted. The extract follows Archie's journey as caregiver for his morbidly obese bedridden mother.
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Embargoed until 6th January 2026