POSTIRONIC NARRATIVE TECHNIQUES OF AUTHORIAL POETICS: CASE STUDY OF DAVID MITCHELL'S NOVEL CLOUD ATLAS
POSTIRONIC NARRATIVE TECHNIQUES OF AUTHORIAL POETICS: CASE STUDY OF DAVID MITCHELL'S NOVEL CLOUD ATLAS

Summary/Abstract: This paper examines D. Mitchell’s authorial poetics in the novel Cloud Atlas through the prism of modern narratology and metamodern principles. This study fills a gap in contemporary narratology and postironic studies, where the connection between postirony and narrative form remains under-theorised. While Cloud Atlas has been extensively analysed through postmodern and metafictional frameworks, little attention has been paid to how specific structural devices, such as mirror composition, trigger plot, polyperspectivity, and rhizomatic organisation, interact as an integrated system to produce postironic meaning. Special attention is paid to the author’s philosophical themes, especially the tension between personality and culture, which arises from his multicultural experiences. By providing a systematic narrative analysis of these techniques, the research redefines postirony as a result of narrative architecture rather than simply a tonal or ideological feature. The key findings of the research demonstrate that these narrative techniques challenge traditional storytelling by blending irony and sincerity, thereby producing a distinct postironic tone. The suggested narrative analysis reveals that Mitchell’s manipulation of multiple narrative layers promotes reflection on themes of identity, history, and interconnectedness, establishing him as a key figure in contemporary postironic literature. The presented results also highlight Mitchell’s authorial poetics through innovative narrative experimentation as part of his postironic writing style, which pushes the boundaries of traditional storytelling, shapes modern narratives, and expands the possibilities of authorial poetics.

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