Modules on Narratology

THE MODULES in this section center around some of the narratologists that have defined this critical school. Each of these critics tend to stand alone quite well, so there is no obvious order in which you might consider proceeding through the modules; however, they do tend to differ in difficulty. If you are new to narratology, you might consider the following order, which tends to increase in difficulty with each critic: Peter Brooks » Roland Barthes » Algirdas Greimas.

The Modules are designed to work aggregatively, so that each subsequent module tends to build on the concepts discussed in the previous modules; however, each is also designed to stand alone, and will sometimes be hyperlinked in other sections of the Guide to Theory. In this way, the modules seek to rethink the way most text-based introductions work. Like a text-based introduction, the modules can work progressively, as if one were thus turning the pages in a book. However, the structure is actually more akin to Deleuze and Guattari's notion of the rhizome: endlessly aggregative (at least in theory) and connected to each other and to the rest of the site by multiple additional links. One can therefore progress through the modules in alternate ways; in the narratology modules, for example, one can concentrate on a single concept, plot, exploring how Brooks, Barthes, and Greimas each differ in significant ways when it comes to this issue. One can also explore connections between the modules on narratology and those found in other locations in this site. The Brooks modules, for example, link up logically with the various Freud modules, especially Module V on transference and trauma, which you might consider reading first; similarly, the Greimas module on his semiotic square connects up logically with the Marxism Modules on Fredric Jameson, who makes use of this concept to understand ideological contradiction. For a brief introduction to the four critics discussed in the Modules, go to the General Introduction.

The Modules for Narratology are on the left of this screen. If you place your cursor on one of the categories, the module sub-categories for each theorist will appear as a link. (Note that some browsers require you to double-click on the link.)

Proper Citation of this Page:

Felluga, Dino. "Modules on Narratology." Introductory Guide to Critical Theory. Date of last update, which you can find on the home page. Purdue U. Date you accessed the site. <http://www.purdue.edu/guidetotheory/narratology/modules/>.