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The literary analysis theory.docx
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Components of Plot Structure

The exposition is the first component of plot structure. In the exposition, the writer introduces the theme, the characters and establishes the setting. It answers the questions ‘Who? What? Where? When?’

Complications follow the exposition. Complications generally involve actions, though they may involve thoughts and feelings as well. Each event is called a moment of complications. Moments of complications become tenser as the plot moves to­wards the moment of its resolution.

The climax is the resolution of a story. It is the most exciting/action filled part of the story. It also known as the main turning point in the story.

The denouement [dei’nu:mRN] is the fourth component of the story. This is a French word that means ‘unknotting’. This part in a work of fiction comes after, and sometimes coincides with the climax. It is an event, or episode that brings the story to its end.

Novels may have two more components of plot structure: the prologue and the epilogue. The prologue contains facts from beyond the past of the story while the epilogue contains additional facts, about the future of the characters if it is not made clear enough in the denouement.

The usual order in which the components of plot structure occur is as follows:

  1. the prologue (if necessary)

  2. the exposition

  3. complications

  4. the climax

  5. the denouement

  6. the epilogue (if necessary)

The author may rearrange the components of plot structure, beginning the story with complications, or even with the denouement. Any shift in the organization of the plot structure affects the total response of the reader. It may affect the atmosphere and introduce the necessary mood.

The narrative method and types of narration

A work of fiction is never homogeneous as to the form and the information it carries. Both very much depend on the viewpoint of the addresser, as the author and his personages may offer different angles of perception of the same object.

Naturally, it is the author who organizes this effect of polyphony but it is the reader who identifies various views with various personages, not attributing them directly to the writer, whose views and emotions are most explicitly expressed in the author's speech or the author' narrative.

The unfolding of the plot is mainly concentrated here; personages are given characteristics, the chronotop is specified. The author's narrative supplies the reader with direct information about the author’s preferences and objections, beliefs and contradictions, and is the major source of shaping up the author’s image.

In contemporary prose, the writer sometimes entrusts some character (who might also participate in the narrated events) with the task of story-telling. The writer himself hides behind the figure of the narrator. This form of the author’s speech is called entrusted narrative.

The structure of the entrusted narrative is much more complicated than the author’s narrative proper.

The author may select any of the four following types of narrators:

  1. The main character. When the main character tells the story, the events are presented to the reader through his perception. The author in this case places himself in the position of the main character and tells of things that only the main character saw and felt.

  2. A minor character. When a minor character, who participates in the actions, narrates the story, the events are described through the perception of this character. The author places himself in the position of a minor character and gives this character’s version of the events and personages.

  3. The omniscient author. The author may narrate his story anonymously, analysing and interpreting the character's motives and feelings. The reader sees what goes on in the minds of all characters. He is then guided by what is known to be the omniscient (or analytic) author. The omniscient author reproduces the character’s thoughts and comments on their actions.

  4. The observer-author. The story may be told in such a way that we are given the impression of witnessing the events as they happen - we see the actions and hear the conversations, but we never enter directly into the minds of any characters. In this case, the reader is guided by the observer-author. The observer-author merely records the speech and actions of the characters analysing them.

The interrelations between the narrative types and the types of narrators can be summarizes as follows:

Narrative Types

Types of Narrators

First-person narrative

The main character tells the story (internal analysis of events)

A minor character tells the story (outside observation of events)

Third-person narrative

Omniscient author tells the story (internal analysis of events)

Observer-author tells the story (outside observation of events)

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