"Man overboard" by Günter Kunert
Author Günter Kunert is best known for his many works that deal with the comex relationship between the former GDR and the FRG. His work is characterized by intense social criticism. This aspect must also be taken into account when summarizing and analyzing the short story "Man Overboard".
The basic story of Günter Kunert
the Short story "Man overboard" by Günter Kunert begins on a ship. In a light breeze, a drunk sailor loses his balance and goes overboard. The helmsman notices the accident and immediately calls out the alarm. The captain has a lifeboat sent out to pull the sailor out of the water.
- But no sooner has the boat crew thrown a lifebuoy to the sailor than another man falls from the bow into the sea. At the same time, a huge wave hits the lifeboat and capsizes it. The captain lets the ship approach them, but comes across a coral reef. The ship is torn open and sinks with the captain.
- Shortly afterwards, sharks appear and kill some of the men swimming in the water. Others can take refuge in the lifeboats, but they gradually die of thirst. The only man who survived the accident is the sailor who was the first to go overboard. He was washed up on an island and nursed back to health by the residents. Instead of telling the truth about the shipwreck and what caused it, he says he was the only survivor of a boiler explosion on board. The islanders are impressed by this extraordinary story. However, she is astonished that the sailor looks frightened every time a stranger appears on the island.
Important points when summarizing and interpreting "Man overboard"
At a summary of Günter Kunert's work, you should emphasize the concise, sober style and the rather open ending that is typical of a short story.
- The sailor's feelings are not explicitly told, but can be deduced from the story: Total apparently he is ashamed of having caused the shipwreck by being drunk overboard went. During an analysis, you can speculate whether he has a guilty conscience or whether he is afraid of reprisals from the islanders.
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- Nor is it said why strangers on the island frighten him. Even in the summary, however, it seems through that he obviously worries with every newcomer that it could be another survivor of the catastrophe who will tell the truth. This aspect can also be transferred to other areas of life - the story plays with it Situations in society in which people commit grave lies and live with the consequences have to.
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