The Narrative Aesthetics in Philip Pullman's The Clockwork:Or All Wound Up

Fiction of fairy tales is an important genre in contemporary British literary world.Philip Pullman's The Clockwork:Or All Wound Up is a typical example of such genre.With a story that exposes human nature,it conveys unique aesthetic pursuit in its narration.Firstly,the narration is completed by several narrators.Each of their narrative forms one level of narration.Some levels of narration go forward smoothly with necessary transitions,some develop with sudden breaks and jumps,while others go across levels.Secondly,the main narrator in the text displays viewpoints and standpoints of value that are similar to those of the implied author.The narration follows clear sequence of thought,the narrative tempo is timely arranged and the stratification of narrative levels are well organized.All the above elements contribute to the reliability of narration.Thirdly,the main narrator of the text is at the same time unreliable.At times,the narrator relates events that are illogical and self-contradicted,and the comments on some events tend to be too objective.Thus,the narration of the text is full of paradoxes,which add to the unfailing charm of the novel.