The Sense of an Ending

by Julian Barnes

The Sense of an Ending: Flashbacks 1 key example

Flashbacks
Explanation and Analysis—The Severn Bore:

Barnes structures The Sense of an Ending around Tony's shifting memories. One of the most striking examples is his repeated memory of watching the Severn Bore. As a young man, Tony recalls traveling with friends to witness the tidal wave, but his memory of the outing is hazy. Throughout the novel, Tony struggles to remember whether Veronica was there with him.