Narratology

English Literature

English Literature

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About these flashcards

This flashcard set helps university-level students learn English narratology, focusing on literary theory and narrative techniques. It covers key terms like metafiction, verbal decorum, and narrative voice, with examples of different discourse types and narrative structures. The platform supports backward learning, allowing users to study from the target language to the source language. Ideal for literature students and researchers, this set aids in understanding complex narrative concepts and improving analytical skills.

Flashcards

81

Students

2

Language

English

Category

English

Level

University

Created / Updated

05.04.2016 / 05.04.2016

Character

Not a real-life person but the creation of an author; exists only within a fictional text

Figure

Variation of "character" or to designate the narrator as "narrative figure"

Metalepsis

Transgression of ontological levels of communication (violation of the distinction between story and discourse)

Auto-characterization

When characterizing agent characterizes himself; often marked by subjective distortions

Altero-characterization

When characterizing agent characterizes another character

Attributive discourse

"tag" identifying the agent of a speech act in one of two ways

Introductory tag

Discourse tag is in the initial position (John said, ...)

Parenthetical tag

Discourse tag is either in the medial or final position (That's, he said, it. / That's it, he said)

Direct discourse

Quoted speech

Free direct discourse

Untagged direct discourse

Free indirect discourse

Original expression combined with framing discourse (What on earth should she do now?)

Indirect discourse

Narrator's report of the original expression (Mary wondered what she should do)

Narrative report of discourse

Narrator summarizes: a character's words, thoughts , mental states (conscious or unconscious , perceptions

Mind style

Character's or Narrator's general pattern of thinking, consists of: typical diction, rhetoric and syntax

Colouring

Characteristic colouring of the narrator's or character's verbal style

Verbal register

Class of words used by the author. May vary among characters and the narrator

Verbal decorum

The appropriate style of language of a character and his or her sociocultural station

Paralepsis

Narrator says too much and betrays that he does not have the knowledge claimed

Paralipsis

When a narrator says too little, leaving out important information (e.g. detective novels)

Metafiction

Fiction about fiction; when a narrative draws attention to the fact that it is a narrative

Narrative

Keyboard commands:

= turn,

= for-/backward,

= scroll

A form of communication which presents a sequence of events involving characters and told by a narrator

Narratology

Keyboard commands:

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The theory and analysis of the structure of narrative

Story

Keyboard commands:

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= for-/backward,

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Events that unfold through the narrative (What?)

Plot

Keyboard commands:

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= for-/backward,

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The events that make up the story (Why?)

Discourse

Keyboard commands:

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The form of language in which a narrative is presented (How?)

Narrartive modes

Keyboard commands:

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How an episode is presented; showing or telling

Mimesis

Keyboard commands:

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Showing

Diagesis

Keyboard commands:

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Telling

Scenic presentation

Keyboard commands:

= turn,

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Continuous stream of detailed action events, with minimal narrative interference

Summary

Keyboard commands:

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Narrator condenses sequence of actions

Description

Introduction of a character or description of a setting

Comment / Commentary

Narrator intrudes to comment on characters or the development of action

Narrative action

Sequence of acts and events

Action unit

distinct point on the story line

Episode

group of events consisting of three parts; exposition, complication and resolution

Primary story line

Main part of a story

Narrative

Sequence of episodes

Beginning

opening passage of a text

Point of attack

Events that begin the primary story line

Ab ovo (point of attack)

beginning with the earliest event in the main story line

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Flashcards

Metafiction

Fiction about fiction; when a narrative draws attention to the fact that it is a narrative

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