Silence Lesson Plan

What is the narrative effect of the transitions in perspective between the Dutch merchant's diary and the third-person narration of Rodrigues's conversation with Inoue? Why do you think the author might have chosen to switch perspectives like this?

The transition from the omniscient third-person narrator to the diary of an early modern Dutch merchant will probably be the most noticeable shift in perspective that students have yet experienced in the novel. The teacher may find it helpful here to make students reflect upon and discuss earlier perspectival shifts. For example, the shift from Rodrigues's letters to the omniscient third-person narrator beginning in Chapter 5...