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Foreshadowing
Chapter 1
Explanation and Analysis—The Traveller's Tale:
A frame story is used to relay the Time Traveller's journey to the future to his dinner guests. The Time Traveller serves as the narrator of the frame story, and the frame story is his account of his experiences and observations while traveling through time. The Traveller begins his narrative:
'I don’t mind telling you the story, but I can’t argue. I will,’ he went on, ‘tell you the story of what has happened to me, if you like, but you must refrain from interruptions.'
The use of a frame story allows Wells to provide a more objective and impartial view of the Time Traveller's experiences, while also creating a sense of immediacy and intimacy with the reader. The narrator of the novel is a friend of the Time Traveller and is present when the Time Traveller first recounts his tale. The narrator thus serves as the link between the reader and the Time Traveller's experiences, and helps to provide context and background information about the Time Traveller and his journey. This device also allows Wells to provide commentary on the events of the Time Traveller's journey—as the narrator reflects on the implications and significance of the Traveller's experiences, the reader is invited to do the same.
The frame story creates a sense of realism and verisimilitude, as it presents the story as a first-hand account of events, rather than as a pure work of fiction. It also adds depth to the character of the Time Traveller, as it allows the reader to perceive his reactions and emotions as he recounts his journey.
The frame story delivers a sense of intrigue, as the Time Traveller's tale is presented as a mystery to be solved, and both the listener's and the reader's curiosity about the Time Traveller's experiences and discoveries are stoked and satisfied. The reader encounters the Traveller's story in tandem with the Traveller's friends and guests, which contributes to the realism and the anticipation latent in the narrative.
