Structural analysis

1. Structural analysis Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? By Jeanette Winterson

2. LITERARY GENRE Memoir • In the book J.Winterson collects the principal episodes of her life describing them with emotions and feelings • There isn’t a respect of chronology • J.Winterson tells her story in first person narrator without the use of dialogues • A memoir is a collect of significant experiences, isn’t an autobiography

3. DEDICATION J.Winterson dedicates the novel to three mothers: • Ann S.birth mother • Constance Winterson adoptive mother • Ruth Rendell literature mother ( she is an essential figure for the novelist regardin to the literary contest )

4. THE MEANING OF THE BOOK’S TITLE • Whyis a question which belongs to all men’s life • Be and Could represent the up-to-date and the hypothetical condition of the life • Happyhumanity’s aim • Normalstatic condition devoid of changes

5. ANALYSIS OF THE CHAPTERS The novel is constituted by fifteen chapters: CHAPTER 1The Wrong Crib TITLE: it remainds to the idea of mistake regarding to the adoption • Description of Constance Winterson • J. Winterson’s personality when she was young • Contrasts between J. Winterson and her mother CHAPTER 2My Advice To Anybody Is: Get Born TITLE: the novelist underlines the importance regarding to the first step of the life throught the literature an instrument for everybody • Description of Manchester throught J. Winterson’s point of view ( personal emotional feelings ) • J. Winterson cenception of the life interminable search of the happiness • Writer’s infancy

6. CHAPTER 3In The Beginning Was The Word • TITLE: it remainds somebody of the beginning of the Bible and underlines the importance of the word’s use • Exhibition of the sensitive memories belonged to a child • The reading of the Bible the language is the central point of the contest and it’s necessary to communicate( bases of J. Winterson’s education ) • Hierarchical relation between the members of her family • CHAPTER 4The Trouble With A Book… • TITLE: it remainds to the theme certain the reading and the function of the books • The different points of view between the writer and her adoptive mother regardin to the books • Books represent the basic instruments of Jeanette’s career as writer • CHAPTER 5At Home • TITLE: it underlines the familiarity of the place • Description of writer’s home and her life with her adoptive parents • Jeanette’s fictionally world a world based on the passion certain the reading of the books

7. CHAPTER 6Church • TITLE: it remainds to the religious conceptions of Mrs. Winterson • Church as a crucial setting of J. Winterson • Exorcism brings the novelist to reflect certain the contradictions between love and religion • CHAPTER 7Accrington • TITLE: it refers to the city where Jeanette W. Lived • Description of the city: shop and inhabitants • Jeanette remembers some episodes bounded to Accrington • CHAPTER 8The Apocalypse • TITLE: it reference to Mrs. Winterson’s religion, the idea of life and the idea of its anthitesis, the death. The title also remaindsof the writer’s discovery of omosexuality • Reflections about sex the birth of Jeanette’s relationship with Janey • Mrs. Winterson’s disapproval about her doughter’s omosexuality

8. CHAPTER 9English Literature A-Z • TITLE: it recalles the importance of the literature • Explanation regarding to the novelist’s conception of the literature • Jeanette tells about the maternal love ( refering to her mother ) • CHAPTER 10This Is The Road • TITLE: quotation from the previous chapter • Description of the woman’s role in the society • Admission to Oxford • Jeanette’s reflections certain the homosexuality wasn’t accepted during that time • CHAPTER 11Art and Lies • TITLE: parallelism between art and lies • J. Winterson tells about her life’s time dedicated to the university • The novelist clinches her opinions certain to the literature and art moreover she shows her mother’s point of view

9. INTERMISSION • Reflections about life and art, Jeanette predilects feelings, immagination and emotions • CHAPTER 12The Night Sea Voyage • TITLE: it remainds to a dark atmosphere • “ Night” calls to mind silence and darkness • “Sea Voyage” calls to mind the life’s difficulties ( refers to her life ) • CHAPTER 13This Appointment Takes Place In The Past • TITLE: meeting between J. Winterson and her biological mother. The word “past” probably refers to the moment in which Ann gave Jeanette for adoption • Flashback Jeanette remembers old episodes regarding to her parents and Christmas • Jeanette tries to get some informations about her biological mother • CHAPTER 14Strange Meeting • TITLE: it reminds to the meeting between Jeanette W. And her mother and her feelings during this moment • Quotation from her book ( “Stone Gods” ) in which she tells about her meeting with her biological mother

10. CHAPTER 15The Wound • TITLE: it call to mind the pains that the writer suffered in her life ( caused by Ann and Mrs. Winterson ) • Jeanette reflects on her childhood and her adulthood • She revives her feelings throught every memory • CODA • In these pages Jeanette tells how the book was born and the following meeting with her mother Ann. Moreover she leaves space to shows her thoughts regarding to maternity, love, past and future.