So, I'm currentlich reading Kobo Abe's "Kangaroo Notebook" and I'm a bit confused about his use of tense shifts.
In this scene in the picture, he starts with "I stepped" then "I noticed" but then he proceeds in present tense "It looks", "He doesn't", "He's", and in the end he switches back to past tense "the boy was having", "he wasn't", etc.
So, I'm wondering what's the function of this. This all happens at the same time, so it's no backflash.
Could it be that the present tense sentences are internal thoughts at the moment, while the past sentences are descriptions?
Here I'd think the dip into present tense is to create a sense of experiential immediacy as he gets into the flesh of the memory, then back to past tense where there is some cognitive distance from the situation.
This is quite common for athletes being interviewed. They will talk about the game in the past tense but discuss specific plays as if they are in the moment. Also every reality tv show has some of this. Where you will watch a scene spliced with the actor/participant discussing it as if it's happening now.