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.