Erzähltheorie

Erzähltheorie, also known as narratology, is a field of literary criticism that studies the nature and principles of narrative. It aims to identify the fundamental components of stories and how they are constructed and conveyed. Central to Erzähltheorie is the distinction between fabula and syuzhet. The fabula refers to the chronological sequence of events as they would have happened, while the syuzhet, or plot, is the way these events are presented in the narrative, including any alterations in order, omissions, or additions.

Key concepts within Erzähltheorie include narrator, focalization, and temporal manipulation. The narrator is the voice that tells the story, and can be internal (a character within the story) or external (outside the story). Focalization, or point of view, describes who is seeing or experiencing the events; this can be external focalization (the narrator observes without access to characters' thoughts) or internal focalization (the reader sees through the eyes and mind of a character). Erzähltheorie also examines temporal aspects like anachronies (flashbacks and flashforwards) and the duration of narrative time compared to story time.

The development of Erzähltheorie is closely linked to structuralism and post-structuralism. Early pioneers like Vladimir Propp with his analysis of folk tales and Gérard Genette with his systematic approach laid much of the groundwork. Modern narratology continues to explore how narrative functions across different media and its cognitive and cultural implications. It provides a framework for understanding not just literature, but also film, games, and other forms of storytelling.