Angle of Repose | Techniques
The form of Angle of Repose is that of a novel within a novel. The inner novel is Lyman's story of Susan; the outer one is the story of Lyman himself. This simultaneous telling of two stories is a clever device, and Stegner maintains a brilliant balance between them. This narrative approach allows Stegner to compare modern western society with that of the late nineteenth century. The weaving together of the two stories creates a set of contrasts: Lyman's failed marriage and Shelly's nonmarriage contrast with Oliver and Susan's long and successful marriage; the invasive...
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