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Week 8 (Narratology)
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Week 8 (Narratology)

Online Lesson for Narratology Week 8

In this online lesson, the instructor will review topics discussed in the supplementary video and answer questions about previously studied material. The focus will be on embedded narratives and the identity of the narrator.

Embedded Narratives

  • The instructor will discuss the functions of embedded narratives.
  • There are two types of internal narrators: homodiegetic and autodiegetic.
  • Homodiegetic narrators are characters within the story, while autodiegetic narrators are main protagonists.
  • When analyzing the identity of a narrator, one must consider both their level (primary or secondary) and whether they are a character in the story.

Identity of the Narrator

  • To analyze the identity of a narrator, ask two questions: Is the narrator a character in the storyline? What is their level?
  • Jeanette's terminology distinguishes between homo-, hypo-, and ortho-diegetic narrators.
  • When analyzing identity of a narrator using Jeanette's terminology, use homo-, hypo-, or ortho-diegetic instead of internal/external.

Overall, this online lesson focuses on reviewing key concepts from previous lessons and answering student questions. The main topics covered include embedded narratives and identifying different types of narrators based on their role within a story.

Types of Narrators

In this section, the speaker explains the different types of narrators and their levels.

Primary and Embedded Narrators

  • Jeanette has terms for the level of the narrator.
  • The two types of narrators are extra-diegetic (primary) and intra-diegetic (embedded).
  • Legolas and his friend's story is an example of embedded narration.
  • Legolas telling a story about talking animals is an example of tertiary level narration.

Hypothetical Example

In this section, the speaker gives a hypothetical example to explain primary and secondary levels.

External Primary Narrator

  • The hypothetical example involves an external primary narrator who tells a story about a man who lived 200 years ago.
  • The external narrator is at a different level than Legolas' world, which is considered secondary level.
  • The rooster and fox story that Legolas tells is considered tertiary level narration.

Naming Characters

In this section, the speaker asks for help in naming characters in their hypothetical story.

Naming Characters

  • The speaker asks for help in naming the man from their hypothetical story.
  • The external narrator is named primary narrator because they are at the primary level.
  • The name for Legolas' level is not given.

Understanding Narratology

In this section, the speaker introduces the concept of narratology and explains how it works.

The External Narrator

  • The external narrator is an imaginary character who tells a story from the primary level.
  • The external narrator's story is about a man traveling with his friends to find a lost object.
  • The external narrator becomes a primary narrator when he tells his story.

Secondary and Tertiary Narrators

  • A man in the story becomes a secondary narrator when he tells a story to his friends.
  • At the tertiary level, there is a story about animals, and the rooster becomes a tertiary narrator.
  • When one of the man's friends tells another story, he becomes a secondary narrator at the secondary level.

Levels of Narration

  • The order of narration does not matter; what matters is how each story is embedded at which level.

Introduction to Narrator Identity

In this section, the speaker provides instructions on how to identify the narrator in a given passage.

Identifying the Narrator

  • To identify the narrator, ask two questions: what is the level and what kind of narrator do we have?
  • For the exam, assume that all quotations are taken from the beginning of the book.
  • Prior knowledge about the book is not necessary.
  • If there is a level change, note it and identify any secondary narrators.
  • If there is no level change and it's from the beginning of the book, assume it's a private narrator.

Exam Tips

This section provides tips for taking an exam on identifying narrators.

Taking an Exam

  • During an exam, read quotations carefully and provide as many references as possible.
  • Make references to quotations and explain your answers with necessary explanations.
  • An answer without explanation will not be considered correct.
  • The ideal time for such an exam is 40 minutes depending on the number of questions.

Supplementary Video

The speaker asks if students have watched a supplementary video.

Supplementary Video

  • The speaker asks if students have watched a supplementary video but does not provide further information.

Exam Preparation and Frame Narratives

In this section, the speaker discusses exam preparation and frame narratives.

Exam Preparation

  • Be ready for the exam at 2 o'clock. Log in to the system immediately and start answering questions.
  • Renaissance course is included in the exam.
  • The announcement about the online exam was made on Saturday.

Frame Narratives

  • Secondary and tertiary narratives are called embedded narratives.
  • A frame narrative is a story in which another story is embedded.
  • There are four types of frame narratives: introductory framing, terminal framing, interpolated framing, and missing framing.
  • Introductory framing occurs when the frame is located at the beginning of a text.
  • Terminal framing occurs when the frame is located at the end of a text.
  • Interpolated framing occurs when the frame is inserted at some point within a text.
  • Missing framing occurs when there is no explicit indication that a story has a frame narrative.

McHale's Definitions

According to McHale:

  • Introductory framing is called "opening."
  • Terminal framing is called "closing."

The Structure of "The Knight's Tale"

In this section, the speaker discusses the structure of "The Knight's Tale" and how it fits into the larger narrative framework of "The Canterbury Tales."

Introduction to Framing

  • The story that the Knight tells is a secondary level story.
  • There are different possibilities for how the framing can be structured in the book.
  • If the frame is located at the beginning, it is introductory framing. If it is located at the end, it is terminal framing.

Embedded Narratives

  • The Knight's Tale is an embedded story because it is not the primary story.
  • Secondary narrators tell us stories that are embedded narratives or tales within tales.
  • Embedded narratives can have functions in relation to the main narrative, such as explanatory, predictive, static, persuasive, or distracting functions.

Functions of Embedded Narratives

Explanatory Function

  • The embedded narrator explains something with flashbacks or analepsis.

Predictive Function

  • This function predicts what will happen later in the main narrative.

Static Function

  • This function provides background information about characters or events.

Persuasive Function

  • This function tries to persuade readers to adopt a certain point of view.

Distracting Function

  • This function distracts readers from the main narrative by providing entertainment or diversion.

Functions of Embedded Narratives

In this section, the speaker discusses the five different functions that embedded narratives can have in relation to the main story.

Five Different Functions of Embedded Narratives

  • Predictive function: When the embedded narrative and the main matter have a common theme.
  • Thematic function: When the embedded nature is intended to influence the course of events in the main narrative.
  • Persuasive function: When the embedded narrative is told to entertain as a pastime.
  • Destructive function: When an embedded narrative undermines or contradicts another part of the text.
  • Explanatory function: When an embedded narrative provides additional information about a character or event.

Analyzing Quotations for Narrative Identity

In this section, the speaker analyzes a quotation to demonstrate how to identify different levels and types of narrators.

Identifying Internal Secondary Narrator

  • The quotation being analyzed is "It was a delightful evening. The men were most excitable."
  • The narrator is identified as an internal narrator because they are a character within the events being described.
  • The level of narration is identified as secondary because it is an embedded narrative within another narrator's account.
  • The identity of this particular narrator would be referred to as an internal secondary narrator or intradiegetic narrator.

Identifying Primary Heterodiegetic Narrator

  • Another part of the same quotation is analyzed where someone else speaks and is embedded within the previous narrator's account.
  • The primary narrator is identified as a heterodiegetic external narrator because they are not a character in the events being described.

The Role of the Narrator

In this section, the professor discusses the role of the narrator in a story and how it can be categorized based on its function.

Functions of the Narrator

  • The coward narrator is used when we don't know anything about the narrator.
  • The explanatory function is used to explain something that happened in the past to another character.
  • The predictive function is used to predict what will happen in the future.
  • The thematic function is used when both the main story and embedded story have a common theme.

Thematic Function

In this section, the professor explains how an embedded narrative can have a thematic function.

Example of Thematic Function

  • The murder of Gonzago in Hamlet reflects the plot of the main narrative and has a similar story for a purpose. It functions as an embedded play within a play with explanatory, predictive, and thematic functions.
  • Embedded narratives with explanatory, predictive, and thematic functions are called mirror stories.

Functions of Embedded Narratives

In this section, the speaker discusses the functions of embedded narratives in relation to the main narrative.

Persuasive Function

  • Embedded narratives are intended to influence the course of events in the main narrative.
  • Example: Kings visit Achilles and tell him a story about a different hero to persuade him into fighting again.

Destructive Function

  • Embedded stories are created for entertainment purposes only.
  • Example: Caterpillars in Canterbury Tales tell each other stories just for fun while traveling.

Thematic Function

  • The similarity between the main narrative and the imaginative shows us that the embedded narrative has thematic function.
  • Example: The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Paul as a military story has a mirror story.

Frames vs. Embedded Stories

This section explains the difference between frames and embedded stories.

Primary Narratives vs. Secondary or Tertiary Narratives

  • Primary narratives are called frame relatives, while secondary or tertiary narratives are called embedded narratives.
  • Frames are primary and contain only one narrative, while embedded stories are secondary or tertiary narratives within frames.

Main Story vs. Secondary Story

  • The term "main story" is not recommended because sometimes secondary stories can become primary if they hold more significance than frame narratives.

Conclusion

This section concludes the lecture and takes attendance for newcomers.

Attendance Check

  • The speaker takes attendance for newcomers who joined during the lecture.

Final Remarks

  • The speaker thanks everyone for their participation and ends the lecture.