The literary purpose of the beginning part of Stone Angel is to provide expository information on the main characters, the setting, and the situation through the use of symbolism. The author has, without actually describing the main character, know her background family life, her childhood home, her thoughts, and parts of her personality. It is set up in such a way to allow the reader interest into the rest of the story, as well, as …showed first 75 words of 1448 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1448 total…purpose is to set up the entire book, through symbolism, narrative and description, and it does an extremely good job of this in an interesting fashion. It sets the tone and style for the remainder of the book, and provides us with insight into the novel, and the story that will be told, of Hagar in the present, reminiscing about her life in the past, as she moves through the future as an old woman.