Narratology of Marzbān-NāmehAnecdotes in Three Levels of Story, Discourse, and Narration with Emphasis on the Anecdote Called Dādmeh and Dāstān

The present study investigates into anecdotes in Marzban-Nameh from the view of structuralist narratology and aims at showing the elements which have a role in formation of a narrative text and how Marzban-Namehanecdotes have a narrative structure. Three levels of a narrative text, namely story, discourse and narration are introduced and the components forming such texts are pointed out. After investigating such elements and components in the anecdote called Dādmeh and Dāstān, it is concluded that the anecdotes in Marzban-Namehhave three levels of plot, subplot, and metaplot. The plot and subplot have thematically related functions and can be interpreted in one parallel sentence.Dialogue is used in representation of sayings and thoughts of characters and narrator, and the most vocal frequency belongs to characters. All in all, anecdotes in Marzban-Namehare comparable to elements of structural narratology. Thus, one similar narrative structure can be imagined for all the said anecdotes.