The Narreme in the Medieval Romance Epic

An Introduction to Narrative Structures

Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism, Medieval, Gothic & Romantic, Theory
Cover of the book The Narreme in the Medieval Romance Epic by Eugene Dorfman, University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Eugene Dorfman ISBN: 9781442638358
Publisher: University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division Publication: December 15, 1969
Imprint: Language: English
Author: Eugene Dorfman
ISBN: 9781442638358
Publisher: University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division
Publication: December 15, 1969
Imprint:
Language: English

In this study Professor Dorfman applies the methods of modern linguistics to literary analysis. Literature may be described as the structured use of language: the modern linguistic analyzes language in a search for the minimal units of sound and form, phoneme and morpheme, and determines the combinations by which they can communicate meaning. The author here searches for a minimal structural unit in the literary narrative analogous to the phoneme and the morpheme in language structure.

Based on a detailed analysis of the Roland and the Cid and twelve additional Romance narratives, Professor Dorfman's argument is that the structure of the medieval Romance epics may be analyzed into functional units which he calls "narremes." He divides a narrative into two types of structure: the superstructure and the substructure. A narrative, by definition, is a series of incidents. All the incidents in the narrative, taken as written, form the superstructure. Analysis, however, shows that many of the incidents may be abstracted from the narrative without deflecting the story-line. On the other hand, other incidents reveal themselves as organically linked with each other, so they cannot be omitted, without destroying the story-line. These selected incidents are the narremes, which make up the substructure of the narrative.

This method of analysis produces so interesting and surprising results, results which make an important advance in research in linguistics and Romance literature.

Eugene Dorfman, as an orthodox structuralist, has focused strictly on the formal descriptions of the narratives; but his analysis leads into the great traditional problems of literary history, and in particular poses anew the problem of the origins of the epic. 

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

In this study Professor Dorfman applies the methods of modern linguistics to literary analysis. Literature may be described as the structured use of language: the modern linguistic analyzes language in a search for the minimal units of sound and form, phoneme and morpheme, and determines the combinations by which they can communicate meaning. The author here searches for a minimal structural unit in the literary narrative analogous to the phoneme and the morpheme in language structure.

Based on a detailed analysis of the Roland and the Cid and twelve additional Romance narratives, Professor Dorfman's argument is that the structure of the medieval Romance epics may be analyzed into functional units which he calls "narremes." He divides a narrative into two types of structure: the superstructure and the substructure. A narrative, by definition, is a series of incidents. All the incidents in the narrative, taken as written, form the superstructure. Analysis, however, shows that many of the incidents may be abstracted from the narrative without deflecting the story-line. On the other hand, other incidents reveal themselves as organically linked with each other, so they cannot be omitted, without destroying the story-line. These selected incidents are the narremes, which make up the substructure of the narrative.

This method of analysis produces so interesting and surprising results, results which make an important advance in research in linguistics and Romance literature.

Eugene Dorfman, as an orthodox structuralist, has focused strictly on the formal descriptions of the narratives; but his analysis leads into the great traditional problems of literary history, and in particular poses anew the problem of the origins of the epic. 

More books from University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division

Cover of the book Our Intellectual Strength and Weakness by Eugene Dorfman
Cover of the book The Near Abroad by Eugene Dorfman
Cover of the book The Politics of Eloquence by Eugene Dorfman
Cover of the book Atlantic Canadian Imprints by Eugene Dorfman
Cover of the book Revitalizing Liberal Values in a Globalizing World by Eugene Dorfman
Cover of the book The Guardian by Eugene Dorfman
Cover of the book Wages, Prices, Profits, and Economic Policy by Eugene Dorfman
Cover of the book An Explanation of Constrained Optimization for Economists by Eugene Dorfman
Cover of the book Science and the Creative Spirit by Eugene Dorfman
Cover of the book If I Lose Mine Honour, I Lose Myself by Eugene Dorfman
Cover of the book Canadian Carnival Freaks and the Extraordinary Body, 1900-1970s by Eugene Dorfman
Cover of the book Just Ordinary Citizens? by Eugene Dorfman
Cover of the book Early English Metre by Eugene Dorfman
Cover of the book Fascism, Architecture, and the Claiming of Modern Milan, 1922-1943 by Eugene Dorfman
Cover of the book Survival Songs by Eugene Dorfman
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy