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.