Diachronic narratology and the realist objectivization of narrative Cover Image

Diachronní naratologie a realistická objektivizace vyprávění
Diachronic narratology and the realist objectivization of narrative

Author(s): Jiří Koten
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies, Studies of Literature, Czech Literature
Published by: AV ČR - Akademie věd České republiky - Ústav pro českou literaturu
Keywords: historical poetics; diachronic narratology; dialogičnost; objektivizace vyprávění; narativní komentář

Summary/Abstract: This article deals with the historical poetics of narrative (inter alia in line with the programme of “diachronic narratology”, which focuses on describing and analysing the development of narrative forms and devices). Attention is also focused on the techniques that are characteristic of realism, which is understood to be a discourse phenomenon in literary history (i.e. not as some timeless phenomenon) and primarily as the suppression of novel dialogicality resulting from the aesthetic norms of 19th century realism. In line with Mikhail Bakhtin and Patricia Waugh’s theories, dialogicality is presented as a trend that is typical of the novel genre. Quite characteristic of the pre-realist novel is the conflict between the depicting (author’s) and the depicted (narrator’s) voice. The requirement for more realistic narration resulted in the suppression of this dual voice, i.e. in a trend towards the objectivization of narrative, which manages to conceal its literary nature and aim for the illusion of directly depicting reality. The objectivization of narration is based on Czech historical prose material (Linda, Klicpera, Tyl and Jirásek), in which the orientation towards a neutral perspective was made evident inter alia in the gradual elimination of narrative commentary, which had originally fulfilled both an interpretational and a formative (patriotic rhetoric) function. A similar phenomenon involving concealment of literariness also appears in personal narration, in which the fictional narrator progressively suppresses the originally evident authorial authority (obvious, for example, in the forewords to novels). Realist novels frequently mask themselves as authentic speech genres (with written or oral narration).

  • Issue Year: 64/2016
  • Issue No: 5
  • Page Range: 731-745
  • Page Count: 15
  • Language: Czech