Narrative Framing in Literature & Literary Theory

Narrative Framing: Etymology and Concept

Narrative Framing – Etymology: The term “narrative framing” originates from the fields of literary theory and narrative studies. The concept of framing narratives is rooted in the notion of how stories are structured and presented to an audience. It involves the deliberate arrangement of a narrative within a larger framework or context, allowing authors and storytellers to guide the reader’s interpretation and engagement with the story. This technique enables a more sophisticated exploration of themes, character development, and the overall narrative structure by providing a broader perspective that shapes the reader’s understanding.

Narrative Framing – Concept: It is a literary and narrative technique used to structure a story within a broader framework, influencing the reader’s interpretation and engagement with the narrative. In essence, it functions as a narrative device that sets the stage for the central story by providing context, perspective, or a specific point of view.

This framework can take various forms, such as a narrator’s perspective, a prologue or epilogue, a diary, or a storytelling event within the story itself. Narrative framing allows authors to manipulate the reader’s understanding, establish thematic connections, and create layers of meaning within the narrative, enhancing the overall storytelling experience.

It is a fundamental element of narrative construction and a versatile tool in literature, providing depth and complexity to the way stories are told and received.

Narrative Framing: Meanings

Aspect	Meaning
Structural Device	Larger framework providing deliberate structure for storytelling.
Perspective and Point of View	Influence on narrative perspective and reader understanding.
Interpretive Framework	Guiding readers in approaching and interpreting the central story.
Storytelling Within a Story	Layers of complexity through tales and commentary within the narrative.
Thematic Enhancement	Emphasizing specific themes and ideas for deeper exploration.
Character Development	Revealing character perspectives and motivations within the context.
Reader Engagement	Piquing reader curiosity and encouraging deeper engagement.
Manipulation of Meaning	Shaping specific understandings and emotional responses to the story.
Enhanced Storytelling	Adding depth, complexity, and layers of meaning to the narrative.
Literary Devices	Use of prologues, epilogues, diaries, and embedded narratives for artistic quality.

Narrative Framing: Theoretical Term Definition

Narrative framing, in literary theory, refers to the deliberate use of a broader contextual framework to structure and present a central narrative within a literary work.

It serves as a structural device that influences the reader’s perspective, interpretation, and engagement with the story by providing a specific point of view or interpretive context. Also, it enhances the storytelling experience, manipulates meaning, and contributes to character development, adding depth and complexity to the narrative.

Narrative Framing: Theorists, Works, and Arguments

Theorist and Work	Argument and Key Point
Gérard Genette Narrative Discourse: An Essay in Method (1980)	Genette introduced the concept of “metalepsis” within narrative framing, challenging the boundaries between narrative and narrating. His work delves into the intricate relationships between narrative elements, affecting the reader’s engagement.
Mikhail Bakhtin The Dialogic Imagination (1981)	Bakhtin emphasized the importance of dialogic relationships and polyphony within narratives, contributing to complex framing and character development. His ideas revolve around dynamic interactions between characters, voices, and contexts.
Dorrit Cohn Transparent Minds: Narrative Modes for Presenting Consciousness in Fiction (1978)	Cohn’s research centers on the presentation of characters’ consciousness in narratives, highlighting how framing choices influence the reader’s perception of characters’ inner thoughts and experiences. She explores various narrative modes and their impact on reader engagement.
William Labov Language in the Inner City: Studies in the Black English Vernacular (1972)	Labov’s research on narrative analysis and oral storytelling techniques provides insights into how individuals frame their narratives in speech. His work is relevant in understanding how real-life narratives are structured and how different framings can affect the interpretation of personal stories.
Roland Barthes S/Z (1970)	Barthes explores the notion of “readerly” and “writerly” texts, addressing how certain texts invite reader participation in narrative construction, influencing framing and reader interpretation through active involvement.

Narrative Framing in Literary Theories

1. Narrative Structure and Postmodernism: Narrative framing is often explored in postmodern literature, where authors play with unconventional narrative structures. It challenges traditional storytelling by using metafiction and self-aware narrative framing to deconstruct and manipulate the reader’s experience.
2. Reader Response Theory: Narrative framing is central to reader response theory, where the reader’s interpretation and engagement with a text are shaped by the framing context. Readers are encouraged to actively participate in constructing the narrative’s meaning.
3. Framed Narratives in Folklore: The concept of narrative framing is applicable in the study of folklore, where stories within stories (nested narratives) are common. Folk narratives often involve characters telling tales or recounting events, and understanding the framing is crucial for interpreting these tales.
4. Postcolonial Literature: In postcolonial literature, narrative framing can be used to analyze how the framing context reflects the colonial legacy, as well as the voices and perspectives of marginalized cultures. It underscores the importance of who controls the framing of narratives in colonial and postcolonial contexts.
5. Narrative Framing and Storytelling Traditions: Narrative framing is relevant in the study of different storytelling traditions, such as oral narratives, where the storyteller’s framing choices influence the transmission and interpretation of the story.
6. Unreliable Narrators: Narrative framing is essential in discussions about unreliable narrators in literature. Understanding how a story is framed can help readers and scholars assess the reliability and perspective of the narrator.

Narrative Framing: Application in Critiques

Work	Critique in Narrative Framing
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern (2019):	In Morgenstern’s novel, the use of framing is pivotal. The protagonist, Zachary, discovers a mysterious book within the confines of a university library. This framing context, where he reads and interprets the book, adds depth to the narrative. The reader is engaged in a story within a story, creating a layered experience. This framing invites readers to actively participate in constructing the meaning of the central narrative, reflecting postmodern and reader response theories.
There There by Tommy Orange (2018):	Orange’s novel employs multiple perspectives and narrative voices, which act as framing devices. The diverse characters, each with their own stories, viewpoints, and experiences, provide a rich narrative context. This framing highlights the complexity of urban Native American identities within a multicultural environment. Readers engage with the characters’ stories within the broader context, emphasizing the importance of who controls the framing of narratives in postcolonial and contemporary settings.
The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates (2019):	Coates’ novel incorporates elements of magical realism, and the framing of the narrative plays a significant role. The protagonist, Hiram, possesses a mysterious power related to water. This context, where Hiram’s power is explored and developed, adds a layer of interpretation and meaning to the story. This narrative framing enhances the reader’s understanding of the protagonist’s journey and the novel’s thematic elements.
Normal People by Sally Rooney (2018):	Rooney’s novel explores the complex relationship between Connell and Marianne. It is critical in this character-driven story, as it alternates between Connell’s and Marianne’s perspectives. The shifting narrative context influences the reader’s perception of the characters and their evolving dynamics. The framing choices in this novel emphasize the importance of perspective and point of view in understanding the characters’ experiences and interactions.

Narrative Framing: Relevant Terms

1. Metalepsis
2. Framed Narrative
3. Storytelling Device
4. Embedding
5. Diegetic and Non-Diegetic
6. Prolepsis and Analepsis
7. Point of View (POV)
8. Narrative Frame
9. Reader Response Theory
10. Polyphony

Narrative Framing: Suggested Readings

1. Genette, Gérard. Narrative Discourse: An Essay in Method. Cornell University Press, 1980.
2. Goffman, Erving. Frame Analysis: An Essay on the Organization of Experience. Harper & Row, 1974.
3. Hall, Stuart. Representation: Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices. Sage Publications, 1997.
4. James, Henry. The Turn of the Screw. Dover Publications, 1898.
5. McHale, Brian. Postmodernist Fiction. Routledge, 1987.
6. Phelan, James. Narrative as Rhetoric: Technique, Audiences, Ethics, Ideology. Ohio State University Press, 1996.
7. Rimmon-Kenan, Shlomith. Narrative Fiction: Contemporary Poetics. Routledge, 1983.
8. Ryan, Marie-Laure. Narrative as Virtual Reality: Immersion and Interactivity in Literature and Electronic Media. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001.
9. Toolan, Michael. Narrative: A Critical Linguistic Introduction. Routledge, 1988.
10. Turner, Victor. The Forest of Symbols: Aspects of Ndembu Ritual. Cornell University Press, 1967.