Note #34

With regards to Thief and the Dogs, explain why Naguib Mahfouz may have chosen to depict events in a particular sequence or order.

The chronology of events in the novel is constructed to provide contextual exposition, foreshadow how the plot unfolds in the future, manoeuvre the pacing, and develop the tension in the plot. 

1)The employment of a non-linear chronology of events, especially the inclusion of flashbacks, serves to provide additional characterisation through exposition to background settings and contextual information on the character's past actions, demeanour, and mental faculties, allowing the reader a greater insight into the character and facilitating a deeper understanding of the novel itself. 

2)This style of narration is also a stylistic device intended to foreshadow future events in the plot through the emphasis on similar motifs in the canonical past, or through a juxtaposition of past and future states.

3)A shifting sequencing of events is instrumental in manoeuvring the pacing of the novel. The establishment of key conflicts in the plot at the right instances allows the readers to familiarise themselves with the plot, and enhance their experience though the character's lens. 

4)Tension lends itself through the skillful manipulation of sub-plots that create a heightened sense of involvement in the reader and amplify their interest in the novel.