Jonathan Culler

Discourse: is used to indicate not only any

kind of talk ,but also the meanings and

values embedded in the talk(Schmidt 2002)

Discourse has its own units ,rules, and its

“grammar” beyond the sentence despite the

fact that it solely consists of sentences(

Barthes 1977:82-3)

Generally speaking , it is(a) the written or

oral account of a real or fictional story or (b)

the genre structure underlying stories

From a structuralistic perspective narratives

are fundamental aspects of human life rather

than certain aspects of culture

Distinction between some terms( such as plot

, story, and etc) are prerequisites to avoid

being a de ja vu or a mot juste

“ Event” , “Transformation” are of

considerable paramountcy in narratives

Based on what they do rather than what they

are

Paradigmatic structure of participants which

is binary (Subject/Object, Donor/ Receiver,

Helper/Opponent….)

Proaretic Code( code of actions , which are

sequential; the construction of the plot)

Hermeneutic Code( code of puzzles, mystery ,

suspense , questions)

Cultural Code( System of values and

knowledge evoked)

Semic Code( Of a person and Character)

Symbolic Code( themes of action;

extrapolation of symbols from the text)

Saussure as a leading vanguard and founder

of structuralism was ultimately after

grammar of language.

Barth, working on Semioilogy, aimed at

coming across a grammar existent in literary

texts

Two things can be done in analysis of single

example of a sentence extracted from a

narrative ( Noteworthy to say in terms of

Structuralism)

A theory of cognitive representation of

narrative texts , including stories , fables and

narratives.

A source of prediction , inferencing,

comparison , and evaluation in understanding

stories and narratives

The main analysis of narratives pivots around

considering the sequence of events

constituting the action of the story or not

REMEMBER, “Oedipus”

The first logic:

Treating events as the reality , and focusing

on revelation as the focal point.

He contends that the logic of signification is

one in which events determine the meaning

The story and the writer thereof are so

powerful that impose the meaning

irrespective of the actor

Convergence of Meaning in Discourse

Demands of Signification

Demands of Narrative Coherence: Internal

links which in our subconscious mind(Freud)

As a result, meaning is not the effect of a prior

event but its cause

The noted logics can not be brought in

harmonious synthesis ; each of which works

by exclusion of the other; nonetheless, they

are both necessary to the force of the play

1. What account of a narrative will be put in

question?

Undermining the possibility of a coherent ,

noncontradictory narrative

Confrontation of Semiotics( aimed at

producing grammar of narrative) and

Deconstructive interpretations ( impossibility

of such grammar)

…………………………………………………

…………………………………………..

…………………………………….

………………………………..

………………………

……………………..

……………….

…………

These two logics , one insisting upon the causal efficacy of origins and the other refuting an efficacy as such, can not be considered as two extremes of a continuum one of which might be preferable . Also, presenting a free choice in adopting one logic is much required. Thus, one might not be able to assert that the one assuming the primacy of event outweighs the one treating events as the products of meaning.

However, as critics we might adopt the first perspective when we debate the significance of character’s actions , while the second perspective is taken up if we are about to discuss the appropriateness or inappropriateness of an ending.

Thank You All