Erzählstrecke

Erzählstrecke is a term used in German narratology to describe a continuous stretch of narration that presents a sequence of events to the reader. It functions as a narrative unit within a larger work, such as a novel, short story, or film script, that focuses on a coherent action or moment in time and is bounded by transitions or shifts in perspective, setting, or focalization.

In analysis, the Erzählstrecke is used to examine how time is managed in the narrative. It relates to the distinction between erzählte Zeit (the time span represented within the story) and Erzählzeit (the time taken by the narrator to recount those events). The pace, level of detail, and the amount of information released to the reader can vary across Erzählstrecken, influencing suspense and comprehension. Authors may subdivide longer portions into multiple Erzählstrecken to modulate tempo.

Erzählstrecke is distinct from other structural terms such as Erzählabschnitt (a larger section) or Handlungsbogen (plot arc). It is not tied to a single textual device; it can be realized through dialogue-driven sequences, descriptive scenes, or time-shifts that reframe the narrative moment.

In practice, scholars identify Erzählstrecken to discuss narrative technique, including changes in focalization, the choice between scene and summary, and the distribution of information. The concept is primarily used in German-language literary studies and may be described in English-language discussions as a “narrative stretch” or “story segment” without a universally fixed translation.