ENG2614 Assignment 1
(COMPLETE GUIDELINE)
2025 - DUE 2 May 2025
For assistance contact
Email:
, Assignment 1: Analysis of "Don't Laugh in Bungelos Street" by Andrea Kaczmarek
Introduction
Andrea Kaczmarek's "Don't Laugh in Bungelos Street" is a grim, modern retelling of the Pied
Piper of Hamelin in a nameless setting where the impact of societal ills is acted out in narrative
and stylistic choices. Employing the structure of a well-known fairy tale, Kaczmarek's
story addresses questions of power, morality, and collective responsibility. The short
story utilises a rich range of stylistic devices in order to create character, develop mood,
and underscore its themes. In this essay, I will discuss the basic elements of the narrative,
including setting, characterisation, point of view, and plot,
before developing an examination of the thematic interests of the story more closely. I will also
analyze how figurative language adds to the story's meaning,
and discuss how illustrations add to the text.
Basic Elements of the Story
Setting
The setting of "Don't Laugh in Bungelos Street" is an essential part of the story, as
it determines the tone of the story and the behavior of the characters. Bungelos
Street, an unremarkable environment at first glance, is soon turned into a metaphor for a
society reconciling with its sinister underbelly. The term "Bungelos"
which Kaczmarek applies to the street has a sound of something out of the ordinary and ominous
to it, suggesting that there is more to the street than meets the eye. The mood of
the story is inherent in the mundane yet eerie environment
where common individuals experience extraordinary events, such as the arrival of
a character who offers a solution to their problems. The environment serves as a
microcosm of larger societal issues, such as corruption and exploitation, which
are inherent in the unfolding of the plot.
Characterisation
Characterisation within the story is key to unlocking its moral overtones. The child
hero, who lives in Bungelos Street, is at the focal point of the reader's anticipation of what
happens in the narrative. The character, along with other children,
represents vulnerability and innocence, which is in direct opposition to the Pied Piper character.
The Pied Piper, a character who, in the original tale, was a hero, is reimagined in this retelling as
a morally ambiguous character whose actions challenge notions of justice and vengeance. The
residents of Bungelos Street, like the children in the original tale, are easily tempted by the
Piper's promises, invoking themes of gullibility, manipulation, and the human desire for escape
from societal pressures.
Point of View
The story is narrated in the third person, and this allows
for excursions into different minds. The omniscient narrative allows for a peek into the inner
world of the protagonist and the public drama that will unfold on Bungelos Street. The narrator is
able to describe the events from a distance but without being detached from the feelings
(COMPLETE GUIDELINE)
2025 - DUE 2 May 2025
For assistance contact
Email:
, Assignment 1: Analysis of "Don't Laugh in Bungelos Street" by Andrea Kaczmarek
Introduction
Andrea Kaczmarek's "Don't Laugh in Bungelos Street" is a grim, modern retelling of the Pied
Piper of Hamelin in a nameless setting where the impact of societal ills is acted out in narrative
and stylistic choices. Employing the structure of a well-known fairy tale, Kaczmarek's
story addresses questions of power, morality, and collective responsibility. The short
story utilises a rich range of stylistic devices in order to create character, develop mood,
and underscore its themes. In this essay, I will discuss the basic elements of the narrative,
including setting, characterisation, point of view, and plot,
before developing an examination of the thematic interests of the story more closely. I will also
analyze how figurative language adds to the story's meaning,
and discuss how illustrations add to the text.
Basic Elements of the Story
Setting
The setting of "Don't Laugh in Bungelos Street" is an essential part of the story, as
it determines the tone of the story and the behavior of the characters. Bungelos
Street, an unremarkable environment at first glance, is soon turned into a metaphor for a
society reconciling with its sinister underbelly. The term "Bungelos"
which Kaczmarek applies to the street has a sound of something out of the ordinary and ominous
to it, suggesting that there is more to the street than meets the eye. The mood of
the story is inherent in the mundane yet eerie environment
where common individuals experience extraordinary events, such as the arrival of
a character who offers a solution to their problems. The environment serves as a
microcosm of larger societal issues, such as corruption and exploitation, which
are inherent in the unfolding of the plot.
Characterisation
Characterisation within the story is key to unlocking its moral overtones. The child
hero, who lives in Bungelos Street, is at the focal point of the reader's anticipation of what
happens in the narrative. The character, along with other children,
represents vulnerability and innocence, which is in direct opposition to the Pied Piper character.
The Pied Piper, a character who, in the original tale, was a hero, is reimagined in this retelling as
a morally ambiguous character whose actions challenge notions of justice and vengeance. The
residents of Bungelos Street, like the children in the original tale, are easily tempted by the
Piper's promises, invoking themes of gullibility, manipulation, and the human desire for escape
from societal pressures.
Point of View
The story is narrated in the third person, and this allows
for excursions into different minds. The omniscient narrative allows for a peek into the inner
world of the protagonist and the public drama that will unfold on Bungelos Street. The narrator is
able to describe the events from a distance but without being detached from the feelings
