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The Life of Texts ch. 5 summary
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This is a summary of The Life of Texts chapter 5, divided into clear sections. The most important terms are all included in this summary.
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Chapter 5: Narrative5.1 Introduction
The power of stories seems to come from their ability to invite us to share in a virtual way in
the trials and tribulations of people whose lives are under pressure & whose futures are
uncertain
Narrativity: what makes narrative texts distinctive
Narratology: the branch of study that deals with the forms and functions of narratives in
society
Narrative research: a research method in which ordinary people are asked to tell their own
stories, which are analyses as a source of insight into dominant ideas & values
During the first phase of narratology, the principal focus was on the formal characteristics &
underlying structures of stories
Post-classical narratology approaches the subject from the perspective of cultural criticism &
pays more attention to how stories (re)shape our worldview emphasis is more on themes
& their impact on personal & collective identity formation
5.2 Narrative and Story
Narrative: used to refer to the semiotic carries of the story; the medium & the narrative
techniques used to represent characters & their world
Story: refers to the characters & actions evoked by the narrative
5.2.1 Word or Image?
A narrative always entails the use of one medium or another
Mimesis: direct representation through enactment (theatre)
Diegesis: indirect representation through words rather than actors (epic poetry)
Media for storytelling: language, illustrations, dance, music, stage design, etc.
Narratologists have to be alert to the differences, but also the communalities & crossovers,
between multiple media
Convergence culture: the culture in which the internet age has resulted in a convergence of
media platforms, which are becoming ever more closely interlinked
Each medium has its own affordances & limitations
5.3 Characters and Their World
Characters are the key to stories for many people
Narratives are a means of both stimulating and satisfying our curiosity about the experience
of others
The reality effect: the capacity of the writer to make the world of the story, even if this is
fantasy, imaginable as a ‘possible’ world
An incomplete picture reveals the power of language to interpret the world: the details
become more important because they are scarce
5.4 Plot Models
A fully fledged narrative should contain chronological & causal coherence
A plot is the dramatic arc that holds the beginning, middle & end together
A motif is the smallest unit of information in a narrative
Structuralism sought to uncover the underlying structure of all stories & to develop an
abstract model with universal applicability
Actantial model:
o A subject/agent desires
o An object of value, but
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