Narrative Theory – Gérard Genette – 1980, Jane E. Lewin (translator)
Narrative Discourse by Gérard Genette
This work examines the intricate mechanics of storytelling, moving beyond simply *what* a narrative communicates to *how* it communicates it. Gérard Genette’s Narrative Discourse, originally published in French as Figures III in 1972, is a foundational text in narratology, the study of narrative structure. It provides a detailed, systematic analysis of the relationship between a narrative and its telling – the difference between ‘story’ (histoire) and ‘narrative’ (discours). Genette dissects the elements of narrative into distinct categories, including time (order, duration, frequency), mode (distance, perspective), and voice (focalization, narration).
Historical / Cultural Context
Genette’s work emerged from a period of burgeoning structuralism and semiotics in the mid-20th century. These intellectual movements sought to understand underlying patterns and systems of meaning in various cultural phenomena, including literature. His approach moved away from purely thematic or character-driven literary criticism towards a formal analysis of the narrative itself. It builds upon the earlier work of Vladimir Propp and Roland Barthes but develops a more nuanced and comprehensive framework. The rise of literary theory in universities during this time created an audience receptive to such analytical approaches.
Who This Book Is For
Narrative Discourse is primarily aimed at students and scholars of literary theory, linguistics, and film studies. However, its insights are valuable to anyone interested in the art of storytelling—writers, filmmakers, game designers, and even those interested in how narratives shape our understanding of the world. The text is dense and requires a certain level of academic background to fully grasp, but its influence has permeated many fields beyond academia.
Further Reading
- Propp, Vladimir. Morphology of the Folktale (1928): A foundational text in structural analysis of narrative, focusing on Russian folktales.
- Barthes, Roland. Mythologies (1957): Explores the semiotic dimensions of everyday cultural phenomena.
- Rimmon-Kenan, Shlomith. Narrative Fiction: Contemporary Poetics (1983): A more accessible introduction to narratology, building on Genette’s work.
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