Structure analysis by Chiara Venturini

 It is a MEMORIE no cronological order the narrator follows the emotional impact of the events.  It consists on 15 chapters + coda Ann S. Birth mother  It is dedicated to three mothers: Costance Winterson Adoptive mother Ruth Rendell “Literary” mother  The narrator is a first personal omniscent narrator.

FIRST CHAPTER: “THE WRONG CRIB”  Introduction of the main topic of the novel;  Short description of Janette’s adoptive family. SECOND CHAPTER: “MT ADVICE TO ANYBODY IS: GET BORN”  Her concept of life considered as a research for happyness;  “Origin“ as foundamental part of people identity;  The effects of the Industrial Revolution in Manchester and Manchester’s description.

TIRD CHAPTER: “IN THE BIGINNING WAS THE WORD”  Language becomes the cetre of investigation;  Religious texts as basis of Janette’s education and Mrs. Winterson’s thought. FOUTRH CHAPTER: “THE TROUBLE WITH A BOOK”  Rading view from two different point of view: from Janette and Mrs. Winterson;  The importance to read a book for Janette. FIFTH CHAPTER: “AT HOME”  Janette’s discomfort to live in her adoptive partents’ home;  Books seen as “a new hause”.

SIXTH CHAPTER: “CHURCH”  Janette relationship with church and religion. Church is nother setting of Janette’s life;  Janette’s reflection about love. SEVENTH CHAPTER: “ACCRINGTON”  Janette describes Accrington, the city where she lived, Accrington’s shops and inhabitants. EIGHTH CHAPTER: “THE APOCALYPSE”  The title of the chapter refers to Mrs. Winterson reflections about death and life;  Janette Winterson’s omosexuality;  Mrs. Winterson disapproved the relationship between Janette and Janey.

NINETH CHAPTER: “ ENGLISH LITERATURE A-Z”  Janette defines books as “messages in a bottle” books help her in difficult times. TENTH CHAPTER: “ THIS IS THE ROAD ”  Janette Winterson tells us how was her admission to Oxford;  Reflections about women condition during the Industrial Revolution;  Janette Winterson explains that during the periond she describes, omosexuality wasn’t accept. ELEVENTH CHAPTER: “ART AND LIES”  Janette Winterson creates a parallelism between art and lies;  Janette Winterson tell us her period at the University and her point of view of literature it is in contrast to her mother’s point of view.

TWELFTH CHAPTER: “THE NIGHT SEA VOYAGE”  “Night” reminds to something of darkness;  “Sea Voyage” reference to an episode of Janette’s life. THIRTEENTH CHAPTER: “THIS APPOINTMENT TAKES PLACE IN THE PAST”  Simbolical meaning of appointment between Janette and Ann, her biological mother;  FLASHBACK she describes the last moment’s of her dad’s life Christmas.

FOURTEENTH CHAPTER: “STRANGE MEETINGS  Meeting with her biological mother and her fellings during the meeting;  Janette was adopted because her bilogical parents had some money problems. FIFTHEENTH CHAPTER: “THE WOUND”  Wound had a form of Mrs. Winterson;  Reflections from childhood to adulthood CODA  Janette adds some information about her meeting with her biological mother;  Reflections love, maternity, life, past and future.