Point of View

Banner in the Sky is told in the third person. Generally, it follows Rudi's experiences, but it also shows the lives of Rudi's family and friends. The third person point of view is especially effective toward the end of the story because it allows the reader to first experience the townspeople's perspective, and Rudi's mother's perspective, as they anxiously await the climbers' appearance at the summit of the mountain. The reader's information is as limited as the town's. Then, the point of view switches to Winter and Franz on the summit, who find Rudi's backpack. The anticipation and tension rises, since the reader's knowledge is still limited. The third person point of view keeps the reader in suspense as the story unfolds.

The story is loosely based on the actual ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865. The Citadel is considered impossible to climb by the local villagers...