Showing papers by "Mieke Bal published in 1981"

Notes on narrative embedding

Abstract: First, the notion of metadiscourse as proposed by Genette (1972:239 e.s.). This notion has given rise to some interesting discussions. Many researchers have been of the opinion that Genette was wrong to use the term to mean the opposite of what it traditionally means. For if in the logico-linguistic tradition the prefix meta-indicates an activity having for its object an activity of the same class, the term metadiscourse should signify: discourse on the discourse, and metanarrative: a narrative on the narrative. The metadiscourse would then always have the function of commentary. Genette's inversion and I think it is less arbitrary than it appears to be produces a more or less opposite

On meanings and descriptions

Abstract: Although descriptive passages would appear to be of marginal importance in narrative texts, they are, in fact, of both logical and semantic necessity. Narratology, therefore, must take these segments into account. In this article, I shall survey the present situation in this field and compare rival points of view. I shall also offer several suggestions for analyzing descriptions. The following topics will be discussed: the nature of description as a specific type of discourse which makes it recognizable as such; the internal structure of description; the place and function of descriptions in the text as a whole. In the latter section, the semantic impact of descriptions in the overall meaning of narrative texts will be accounted for. This article is intended as a contribution to the theory of description as a part of narratology. It also has a didactic purpose, since it proposes a model for the analysis of texts which can be used for systematic text-study, both in a historical and a comparative perspective.