Narratology

Narratology is the study of narrative and narrative structure. It analyzes how stories are constructed and presented, how their components interact, and how readers or viewers interpret them. The field applies across media, including literature, film, theatre, comics, radio, and digital storytelling, as well as oral narration and interactive media such as video games.

Core concerns include narrative voice and point of view, focalization, and the management of time and space. The distinction between the story (fabula) and its presentation (syuzhet) is central in many approaches, as is the concept of diegesis versus mimesis (the showing of events). Analysts also study narration level, perspective, and the implied reader or narratee.

Key terms were developed by Gérard Genette, who organized a systematic approach around narrator and narrating voice, focalization (who sees what), order, duration, frequency, and levels of narration (extradiegetic vs. intradiegetic). His work, particularly Narrative Discourse (1972), helped consolidate narratology as a distinct field.

History and scope: narratology grew from structuralist and semiotic movements in the mid-20th century, drawing on Russian formalism, Propp’s morphology of the folktale, and Todorov’s narrative theory. It has since expanded to film studies, theater, comics, and digital media, often blending with cognitive and reception approaches.

Applications and debates: narratology provides tools to analyze how narrative organization shapes meaning, guides interpretation, and influences reader engagement. Critics note risks of over-systematization and Eurocentric bias, while contemporary trends broaden its scope through cognitive, affective, feminist, and postcolonial perspectives.