Narrative Analysis of "A Quiet Romance" Utilizing Gérard Genette's Theory [In Persian]

Narratology, a field within literary studies, focuses on analyzing narratives, narrative systems, story structures, and storytelling techniques. It aims to uncover the more profound meaning embedded within texts and enhance our understanding of narratives. Postmodern literature often challenges conventional notions of time and narrative in prose fiction. Nader Ebrahimi's "A Quiet Romance" exemplifies this type of narrative. This descriptive-analytical study examines "A Quiet Romance" through the lens of Gérard Genette's theory of narrative time. Genette, a prominent figure in structuralist narratology, emphasizes the significance of order, duration, frequency, focalization, and voice in describing and analyzing the structures of literary texts. The research findings reveal that "A Quiet Romance" exhibits strong coherence. However, deliberate temporal disruptions in the events add artistic depth to the story. These temporal disruptions are prevalent throughout the novel, with frequent shifts between the past and the present. The initial chapter primarily focuses on the past, incorporating retrospective elements contributing to a slower pace. In terms of duration, the surface layer of the novel follows the passage of days, creating a sense of positive acceleration and time omission. Conversely, the content layer of the story conveys a negative sense of acceleration. Dialogues, predominantly conveyed through the emotions and beliefs of the character "Gile Mard," form the narrative's core. The story often includes extended descriptive pauses, contributing to a slower narrative progression. Repetition and recounting are also prominent features of the narrative. Regarding focalization, the story utilizes two perspectives: an omniscient narrator and a first-person narrator, with the majority of the novel adopting the first-person viewpoint while the third-person perspective is sparingly employed.