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How did David Bergelson use modernist techniques in Opgang?

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In his masterpiece Opgang (1920), David Bergelson employs several modernist techniques to convey the decline of the shtetl. These narrative strategies include:

  • Internal monologue: Providing direct access to the characters' private thoughts.
  • Dream sequences: Utilizing surreal or subconscious imagery to deepen the narrative atmosphere.
  • Nonlinear narrative: Departing from traditional chronological storytelling to reflect the fragmented nature of the characters' experiences.
  • Roving narrative eye: Employing a shifting perspective that views the town through the eyes of many different characters, which helps illustrate the moribund quality of eastern European Jewish towns.1

These techniques allow Bergelson to move beyond conventional storytelling, creating a complex, impressionistic portrait of social decay.1