Slide 1

Fiction and narration Lecture one

Slide 2

Aristotles division Drama Lyrical poetry Epic poetry / fiction

Slide 3

Any novels that made impression on you? Any important novels in your life?

Slide 4

The art of telling to narrate: Latin narro, narrare to tell narrative: primary cognitive instrument Modern psychology: fundamental role of the narrative in the cognitive process apart from paradigmatic thinking, is one of the two fundamental ways of thinking (J. Bruner)

Slide 5

Surrounded by stories / narratives: confessions, jokes, testimonials, gossip, novels, films (they all tell stories) Narrative: a fundamental way of organizing experience Narrative is strongly related to exercise of power and control

Slide 6

Universality of narration Storytelling universal human practice: international, transhistorical, transcultual Most social interaction - narrative Roland Barthes

Slide 7

The powers of narrative Frederic Jameson: reality comes to us in the shape of stories Many serious psychological dysfunctions: inability to construct relevant narratives (or auto-narratives )

Slide 8

Powers of the narrative storytelling used in psychological therapy powers of the narrative: reduce content and seduce the reader also to subvert and disrupt

Slide 9

The novel - fiction Relatively late England 18 th century

Slide 10

Several precursors in the West Epic poem Chivalric romance Italian novella Picaresque novel

Slide 11

Asiatic tradition of fiction The Tale of Genji ( Genji Monogatari) by Murasaki Shikibu (11 th c.) Romance of the Three Kingdoms ( ) by Luo Guanzhong (14 th c.)

Slide 12

Epic: ancient precursor of the contemporary novel. Characteristic features of an epic: Long, narrative poem in elevated style. The protagonist figure of great importance. Happens at an important moment in history. Vast setting. Presence of the supernatural forces (gods, goddesses, angels, demons, magical objects or powers). Narrated with a measure of objectivity. Detailed description of characters and setting. All events relate to the central theme.

Slide 13

Characteristic conventions of the epic Begins with the invocation (usu. to the muse). Narrative opens in medias res. Often includes extended formal speeches of the characters. Frequently uses elaborate epithets and similes.

Slide 14

Major types of epics Primary (folk or oral, for recitation) Homers Iliad and Odyssey, Beowulf, Song of Roland, Cid, Gilgamesh. Secondary (literary or art epics composed, written down): Virgils Aneide, Dantes Divine Comedy, Miltons Paradise Lost.

Slide 15

Chivalric romance Expresses tendency in literature opposite to that of realism Originates from the epic tradition Developed in the context of aristocratic courts

Slide 16

Features Tale in verse or prose about improbable adventures: quest Idealised protagonist (upper-class, heroic, devout, strong etc.). Remote and enchanted setting ( the marvellous and the mythic) Elements of courtly love Presence of the chivalric code / ethos

Slide 17

Three main cycles of medieval romances: The matter of Britain (Arthurian romances). The matter of Rome (Alexander the Great, Trojan wars, Thebes). The matter of France (Charlemagne and his knights).

Slide 18

In many European languages (e.g. French, German or Russian) the term romance or roman is synonymous with the novel

Slide 19

NOVELLA Italian origin, means a piece of news. A piece of short narrative, concentrating on a single event situation or conflict. It produces elements of suspense. Most famous example: Boccaccio, Decameron (1349-51).

Slide 20

Other features Characters are ordinary people. Realistic and sparse description. Focus on action, usually comprising of some mischief with sexual undertones. Celebrates human vitality and shrewdness.

Slide 21

PICARESQUE (picaresca) Originates in the 16 th century Spain Most famous: Lazarillo de Tormes (1553) Spanish: picaro (picaroon) rogue, knave Famous picaresques in English literature: Thomas Nashe, The Unfortunate Traveller (1594). Daniel Defoe, Moll Flanders (1722). Henry Fielding, Jonathan Wild (1743). Tobias Smollet, Roderick Random (1748).

Slide 22

Features Special type of character: low-life, cunning, with strongly anti-heroic features Typically, servant of many masters, often involved in criminal activity. A chronicle of the adventures: episodic structure No character development or progress Simple, plain style, realistic manner in description Satire of society

Slide 23

Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616) First European novel: part I - 1605; part II - 1615 A psychological portrait of a mid-life crisis Satirizes medieval romances, incorporates pastoral, picaresque, social and religious commentary What is the nature of reality? How does one create a life?

Slide 24

THE FATHERS OF THE ENGLISH NOVEL Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe (1719). Jonathan Swift, Gullivers Travels (1726). Samuel Richardson, Pamela (1740). Henry Fielding, Joseph Andrews (1742), Tom Jones (1749). Laurence Sterne, Tristram Shandy (1759)