An Introduction to the Study of English and American Literature by Vera und Ansgar Nünning

Author:Vera und Ansgar Nünning
Language: deu
Format: epub
Publisher: PONS
Published: 2017-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Event

The plot sequence can be divided into segments of varying sizes. The smallest plot unit is known as an ‘event’, defined in structuralist narrative and drama theory as “the smallest unit in the composition of the sjuzhet, which cannot be divided any further” (LOTMAN 1972: 330). Events propel the action onward and bring about changes in the situation of the characters. In his semiotic approach, JURIJ LOTMAN (1972: 332) defines an event as “the displacement of a character across the boundary of a semantic field”. As can be seen from FORSTER’s example, however, unintentional changes of situation are also classed as events. Yet although occurrences such as the gathering of clouds can be classed as events, a sequence of such occurrences alone does not constitute a narrative text. Narratives always contain agents (characters, or sometimes anthropomorphised, personified figures such as talking animals), who have a choice between diverse courses of action.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.