Fortælling

Fortælling is a term used in Danish to describe the act of telling a story and the narrative content that is conveyed. It encompasses both oral and written forms and can refer to folktales, novels, biographies, memoirs, and journalistic narratives. The core feature of a fortælling is a sequence of events organized through characters, places, and times and presented by a narrator or reporting voice.

Etymology and scope: The word derives from the verb fortælle (to tell) with the -ling suffix, indicating the process or product of telling. In Danish usage, fortælling is a broad category within literature and narrative theory, distinct from, but overlapping with, histori or historical account, fabel (fable or moral tale) and beretning (an account or report).

Forms and structure: Fortælling can be fictional or factual. Narrative techniques include exposition, complication, climax, and resolution, as well as narrative perspective (first person, third person), focalization, and time manipulation such as flashbacks. The distinction between fortælling (the story told) and handling of material (the plot) is a common topic in literary analysis.

Historical and cultural context: In Danish culture, as in many others, fortælling has a long tradition from oral storytelling and medieval prose to modern novels and journalism. It serves multiple functions, including entertainment, memory preservation, social critique, and the transmission of norms and values. In contemporary media, fortælling extends to digital storytelling, podcasts, and multimedia narratives.

See also: storytelling, narrative theory, folklore, fiction, nonfiction.