ELL1013F L3 - One Thousand and One Nights
ELL1013F: The One Thousand and One Nights
Course Title: Alf Layla wa-Layla
Instructor: Hassana Moosa
Email: hassana.moosa@uct.ac.za
Location: AC Jordan 124
Attendance
Reminder to register attendance for today's lecture.
Lectures Part 2 - Recap
The 1001 Nights is described as ‘authorless’, showcasing contributions from various writers and tellers.
This authorship enables diverse interpretations of the tales, unshackling them from a singular author’s intent.
Framing narratives and embedded stories are integral structural devices within the 1001 Nights.
Shahrazad’s framing story is pivotal, encompassing broad themes allowing multiple interpretations.
Discussion Points
What is the impact of the framing narrative on the embedded stories?
How does Shahrazad's use of embedded stories reinforce her purpose?
What are the interconnections between Shahrazad's story and other narratives within the collection?
Lecture 3 - Narrative Strategies: Time and Power
Exploration of Shahrazad’s storytelling techniques.
Investigation of narrative strategies used and their impact.
Identifying narrative techniques and their effects on the listening audience.
Key Concept: Close Reading
Definition: An in-depth analysis focused on a short text.
A close reading considers the small section closely while connecting it to broader contexts.
The close reading argument must articulate the significance beyond the specific text.
Key Concept: Close Analysis
Process of analyzing language to substantiate a reading or interpretation.
Close readings support specific points or ideas derived from texts.
Key Concept: Elements of Close Reading
Literary Devices: Analyze metaphors, similes, personification, and other figures of speech.
Grammar and Punctuation: Examine use of commas, full stops, and syntax.
Structure and Organisation: Focus on narrative flow, order, and time.
Vocabulary: Assess adjectives, nouns, verbs, and expressions.
Context: Consider socio-historical context and its relevance within the text.
Shahrazad’s Aims
Shahrazad attempts to persuade her father to marry her to King Shahrayar to save the kingdom's women from his reign of violence, highlighting her courage.
She seeks to delay her death through storytelling, stating her intention to keep the King engaged and alive.
Shahrazad’s strategy is rooted in her resistance against the tyranny of the King, showcasing her role as a savior of her peers.
Shahrazad’s Achievements
Utilizes narrative strategies to effectively delay events and avoid execution.
Her storytelling not only entertains but serves a critical survival mechanism.
Shahrazad’s Temporal Narrative Strategies
Suspense
Definition: A technique of creating anticipation by withholding information.
Techniques include foreshadowing, cliffhangers, and dramatic irony.
Suspense in Practice
Example: On her first night, Shahrazad leaves a cliffhanger, fostering audience engagement and anticipation.
Effect: The physical pause in her narrative emphasizes the built suspense and keeps both the characters and the audience waiting.
Distraction via Detail
Strategy: Uses elaborate details to embellish narratives, thus slowing the passage of time.
Evidence: The extensive detailing of the food and ambiance in her stories diverts attention from the looming threat of death.
Distraction via Convolution
Technique: Embeds complex stories within her main narrative, creating layers of distraction.
Example: The structure of the stories often leads to an experience of infinite narrative possibilities, enhancing the depth of each session's storytelling.
Mis en Abyme
Definition: The double-mirroring effect created through embedding narratives, often leading to infinite regress.
Analogous examples include plays within plays and films within films (e.g., Hamlet, Fellini's 8½).
Confusion with Timelines
Claim: Shahrazad manipulates the listener's perception of time by presenting stories in a non-linear fashion.
Example: Various stories feature mixed timelines, leading to narrative ambiguity and engaging the audience on multiple levels.
Analysis of transitions in temporal orientation within her stories enhances the depth of her narrative control.
Conclusion
Shahrazad’s storytelling techniques serve as a mechanism not only for survival but also as a broader metaphor for resistance against oppression, showcasing her intelligence and creativity.