Narrative Structure, 1250-1750

This project investigates the development of narrative structures from the Middle English period to the 18th century. The theoretical model adopted for the analyses is that described by Monika Fludernik in her monograph Towards a 'Natural' Narratology (London 1996). This model is based on the assumption that early written narrative reflects a substrate of oral narrative, discernible in its essentially episodic pattern, which is gradually superseded by more complex forms of narrative as written composition becomes the standard. The project is concerned with applying this model to a number of individual fictional and non-fictional genres. The results are to be published in a collaborative study which will be covering the following aspects: In a first part, Monika Fludernik gives an introduction to the theoretical model and an overview over the development from oral to written composition. The second part contains the discussion of a number of genres from the Middle English period: the verse romance (Anne Herlyn), the saints´ legend in verse (Monika Fludernik), the fabliau (Theresa Hamilton), sermons and devotional prose (Monika Fludernik), and 15th century prose romances including Malory (Monika Fludernik). A third part deals with texts from the transitional period from Middle to Early Modern English, including a discussion of historical narrative from 1066 to 1700 (Stefan Hanke and Anne Herlyn); of the letter (1400-1650 - Monika Fludernik and Stefan Hanke) and of prose legends and hagiographical literature (1400-1700 - Thomas Lederer). Part four moves the discussion to the new genres of the Early Modern English period, comprising chapters on Elizabethan prose in the low style (Monika Fludernik), on the Renaissance romance (Ines Detmers), and on epic verse (Anne Herlyn). In the fifth and concluding part, Monika Fludernik discusses developments beyond the Early Modern English period, such as the rise of the novel, and the development of verse narrative in the 18th and 19th centuries, before presenting a summary of the results and a final conclusion to the volume.

Projektbeginn: 01.10.1996
Projektende: (unbegrenzt)

Fludernik M.

Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
Englisches Seminar
Institut für Englische Sprache und Literatur
Rempartstr. 15
79098 Freiburg i. Br.

Telefon: 0761 - 203-3350
Fax: 0761 - 203-3348
Email: gert.fehlner@anglistik.uni-freiburg.de
http://portal.uni-freiburg.de/angl