An Introduction to the Structural Analysis of Narrative

Overview

• Authors: Roland Barthes and Lionel Duisit

• Published in New Literary History, Vol. 6, No. 2 (Winter, 1975), pp. 237-272.

• Literary narratives can be found in various forms across all cultures and historical periods.

• Analysis aims to uncover the underlying structures of narratives despite their diversity.

The Universality of Narrative

• Narratives exist in many genres and across diverse media:

  • Language (oral or written)

  • Visual arts (paintings, stained-glass windows)

  • Performing arts (drama, comedy)

  • Other forms (myth, legend, fables, history)

• Narrative is intrinsic to human experience across all societies and cultures.

The Need for Structural Analysis

• The question arises whether the universality of narrative renders it insignificant.

• Structuralism aims to identify a shared model to analyze different narrative forms, similar to linguistic analysis.

  • Thinkers like Aristotle, Russian formalists, and Saussure focused on constructing models for understanding narratives.

• Structural analysis is necessary to classify narratives beyond anecdotal observations.

The Challenge of Variety

• Two primary issues in narrative analysis:

  • Is narrative merely a random assembly of events, relying on the author's talent?

  • Or does it share a common structure, open to critical examination?

• Structural analysis requires defining a model that encompasses various narratives, drawing parallels with linguistic theory.

The Language of Narrative

Beyond Sentences

• Traditional linguistics focuses on the sentence as the base unit; beyond it lies discourse.

  • Discourse includes multiple sentences organized to communicate meaning.

• Rhetoric is a discipline that studies such organized discourse.

• Establishing a linguistics of discourse is essential for narrative analysis.

Narrative as a System

• Narrative is a unique language that transcends merely connecting sentences, organized by specific rules of engagement.

  • Each narrative holds structural similarities, akin to linguistic forms in grammar.

• Actantial Typology: Character roles in narratives correspond to grammatical functions (e.g., subject, object).

• Narrative cannot exist independently from language, and its structure serves both traditional content and literary form.

Levels of Meaning in Narrative

• Similar to linguistic levels, narrative can be analyzed on various strata:

  1. Functions (elements driving the narrative forward)

  2. Actions (larger arcs involving character interactions)

  3. Narration (the delivery and style of the narrative itself)

The Concept of Functions

• Functions are defined by their significance to the narrative flow, governed by correlations within the story.

• Not every detail is functional; however, everything contributes to the narrative system.

• Cardinal functions define the necessary elements driving the story forward, whereas catalyses fill narrative gaps, enriching context.

Indices and Informants

• Indices: elements providing additional context (e.g., setting details)

• Informants: units offering straightforward information within the narrative structure.

• Both functions reveal the interconnectedness of narrative elements, shaping the reader's understanding and expectation.

Analyzing Narrative Structures

Linking Units

• The structural syntax encapsulates how different narrative units combine to create broader meanings.

  • Cardinal functions interlink with catalyses, while indices connect with character actions and narrative dynamics.

• Clarity emerges when these different strands are integrated into larger sequences of meaning.

Actions and Characters

• Narrative characters (or actants) take part in actions, defined not simply by personas but by their roles in narrative progression.

• Various models (like Greimas') provide frameworks for analyzing character participation.

The Narrational Level

• Narrative communication involves both a narrator and a reader: examination of how they interact reveals deeper narrative meanings.

Modes of Narration

• Three models of narration:

  1. Individual narratives reflecting the author's psychology.

  2. Omniscient narrators providing a broad perspective on characters.

  3. Character-centered narratives where perspectives are limited to their knowledge.

• Narration exists not purely as a reflection of reality but rather as a constructed meaning within the narrative framework.

The System of Narrative

Integration and Distortion

• Narrative follows a dual process of articulation (fragmented units) and integration (joining units into larger meanings).

• Distortions introduce elements of complexity that require the reader to engage critically with the narrative structure.

Mimesis and Meaning

• Narrative does not merely mirror real-life events; instead, it creates its own logic, defining meaning through its structure.

• Narrative Logic: the structuring of time and events is not linear but acts as a device to maintain reader engagement and develop suspense.

Conclusion

• Barthes and Duisit's analysis emphasizes that narrative structures must be dissected beyond mere storytelling to understand their underlying mechanics fully.

• The study of narrative as a formal structure reveals essential insights about language, culture, and the arts throughout history.