Abbott - Defining Narrative

Book Overview

• Title: The Cambridge Introduction to Narrative (Second Edition)

• Author: H. Porter Abbott, University of California, Santa Barbara

• Notable Praise for First Edition:

  • Described as having brilliant architecture of narrative.

  • Recommended as a guide to narrative technique.

  • Noted for its accessibility and coherence, highly recommended for its practical application in literary theory and criticism.

• Praise for Second Edition:

  • Stronger than the first edition, includes two new chapters on 'Narrative and Truth' and 'Narrative Worlds'.

  • Reworked for accuracy, comprehensiveness, and clarity, valuable for classes in various disciplines.

  • Considered an invaluable resource for specialists.

Definition of Narrative

• Basic Understanding:

  • Narrative is defined as the representation of an event or series of events.

  • Key Element: "Event" (or "action") is essential for a narrative to exist.

  • Examples:

    • Description: "My dog has fleas" (not a narrative).

    • Narrative: "My dog was bitten by a flea" (contains an event).

• Scholarly Views on Events:

  • Some argue the necessity of at least two events (Barthes, Rimmon-Kenan).

  • Others require causal relationships between events (Bal, Bordwell, Richardson).

  • Abbott advocates for a broader definition covering even single events.

Complexity of Narrative

• Longer Works as Narratives:

  • Debate exists over whether longer, complex works like poetry or fragmented narratives count as narratives.

  • Narrative Coherence: Lack of continuity or coherence may disqualify some works as narratives despite containing mini-narratives.

  • Picaresque Novels (e.g., Lazarillo de Tormes, The Adventures of Augie March) are always regarded as narratives due to shared chronology and character involvement.

Major Uses of "Narrative"

• Compact and Definable:

  • Focused on individual narrative units as building blocks for larger narratives.

  • Provides a basis for discussion of various definitions of narrative as useful subsets.

• Loose and Generally Recognizable:

  • Includes longer structures (e.g., genres like tragedy or comedy) that might contain significant non-narrative elements.

  • The aspect of narrative coherence is vital at this level.

Story vs. Narrative Discourse

• Differences Explained:

  • Distinction between "story" (events/timeline) and "narrative discourse" (how those events are presented).

• Time in Narrative:

  • Incorporates external time (reading duration) and internal time (plot chronology).

• Example of Chrono-Logic:

  • Events can be recounted in different orders, showcasing flexibility in narrative discourse.

• Narrative Flexibility:

  • Narrative discourse can change perspectives and shape events while retaining the same core story.

Representation and Presentation

• Definitions in Narrative Studies:

  • Representation: the act of narrating or telling a story.

  • Presentation: used for stories acted out (theater) as opposed to being narrated.

  • Argument for broader use of "representation" to include visual media and their storytelling capabilities.

  • Author's Choice: Abbott favors "representation" due to its common usage and implication of a pre-existing story.

Constituent vs. Supplementary Events

• Distinctions in Events:

  • Constituent Events (Nuclei/Kernels): Necessary for the core story.

  • Supplementary Events (Catalyzers/Satellites): Add depth but aren't necessary for the story's integrity.

  • Significance Exists: Supplementary events can enhance meaning and thematic depth without altering the foundational story.

Changes in Narratives Over Time

• Acknowledgment of ongoing changes in story elements as cultures evolve.

• Demonstrated through variations of the Faust story across different time periods.

• Persistence of core elements and themes amid changes is crucial in narrative analysis.

The Concept of Narrativity

• Narrativity Defined:

  • A measure of how much a narrative invokes a sense of storytelling beyond plain events.

• Degree of Narrativity:

  • Involves emotional depth, character development, and performative qualities.

• Scholarly Discourse:

  • Complex debates around narrativity emphasize variations and personal interpretation in storytelling.

Selected Secondary Resources

• Recommended readings and texts:

  • Routledge Encyclopedia of Narrative Theory

  • Gerald Prince's Dictionary of Narratology

  • Luc Herman & Bart Vervaeck's Handbook of Narrative Analysis

  • Jonathan Culler's The Pursuit of Signs

Conclusion

• Narrative understanding is essential in literature, theory, and varied academic disciplines.

• The complexities of definition, representation, and constituent events contribute to an expansive discourse on narrative theory.