Transnarration and Transnarrative Travel: Types and Applications

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Associate Professor of English Language and Literature, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

Abstract

Drawing upon such theoretical principles as intertextuality, transtextuality, and hypertextuality, the present article seeks to introduce the notion of transnarration and its various kinds and applications in narrative genres. Put another way, the purpose of this narratological study is to define transnarration and transnarrative travel, and discuss their stratifications and categorisations in various forms of narrative. Here, the central questions are: what are transnarration, transnarrative travel, and their different kinds in narrative genres? How can the characteristic features of transnarration be traced and analysed in genres that incorporate micro or macro narrations? To answer these questions, the present study makes frequent use of key terms associated with intertextuality, Genette’s hypertextuality in particular, as well as of narrative elements, characters specifically, in an attempt to illustrate and exemplify different manifestations, categorisations, and sub-categorisations of the notions in question. The article divides transnarrative travel into outwardly (bilateral and unilateral) and inwardly (in even and uneven narratives) and argues that transnarration is, in effect, the textual and semantic expansion of a narrative and its penetration into another via the intertextual transportation and the simultaneous appearance of major or minor characters. The paper demonstrates that the character’s reciprocal or one-sided travel from a hypotext into a hypertext, from a hypertext into a hypotext, among even or uneven narratives within a single narrative work, from a main to a frame story or among possible stories in a multi-plotted and metafictional narrative work are all manifestations of transnarration and transnarrative travel.  
 
Extended Abstract

Introduction

Drawing upon such theoretical principles as intertextuality, transtextuality, and hypertextuality, the present article seeks to introduce the notion of transnarration and its various kinds and applications in narrative genres. The purpose of this narratological study is to analyze transnarration and transnarrative travel and discuss their categorizations in various forms of narrative. Here, the central questions are: what are transnarration, transnarrative travel, and their different kinds in narrative genres? How can the characteristic features of transnarration be traced and analyzed in genres that incorporate micro or macro narrations? To answer these questions, the study makes frequent use of key terms associated with intertextuality, Genette’s hypertextuality, in particular, as well as of narrative elements to illustrate different features of transnarration in various narrative forms.
 

Theoretical Framework

The present study uses the term transtextuality and some related terms, developed by Genette, to examine the textual and narrative interactions in narratives. The main characteristic feature of transnarrative, which turns it into a special kind of intertextuality and transtextuality, is the travel of the character from his context and narrative realm to another one.
 

Methodology

In the present paper, first, Genette’s transtexuality and the related terms are illustrated and, then, transnarration and the transnarrative travel, and their different kinds in narrative genres are studied.
 

Discussion and Analysis

Transnarration and transnarrative travel possess numerous functions. Transnarration is utilized to create a satirical atmosphere, emphasize metafictional and transnarrative elements, or undermine the writer’s authority. Allusions in transnarration also play a great part. The narrative or semantic structure and the characterization of the hypotext and hypertext constantly undergo changes and development and intertextual and transtextual relations are developed between the hypotext and hypertext and their narrative elements.
 

Conclusion

In the present study, the concepts of intertextuality, transtextuality and hypertextuality were discussed in order to examine transnarration, transnarrative travel and their different kinds and applications in different narrative genres. Transnarrative travel is divided into outwardly travel (bilateral and unilateral) and inwardly travel (in even and uneven narratives) and it is argued that transnarration is, in effect, the textual and semantic expansion of a narrative and its penetration into another via the intertextual transportation and the simultaneous appearance of characters. Therefore, the character’s reciprocal or one-sided travel from a hypotext into a hypertext, from a hypertext into a hypotext, among even or uneven narratives within a single narrative work, from a main to a frame story or among possible stories in a multi-plotted and metafictional narrative work are all manifestations of transnarration and transnarrative travel.
 
Bibliography
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Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Literary Theory and Criticism
Volume 6, Issue 1 - Serial Number 11
Serial 11
May 2021
Pages 159-190

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