frásagnarfræði

Frásagnarfræði, often translated as narratology, is the academic study of narrative. It seeks to understand the structure, form, and function of stories across different media, including literature, film, oral traditions, and even video games. Scholars in this field analyze how stories are constructed, how meaning is conveyed, and how narratives engage audiences.

Key concepts in frásagnarfræði include the distinction between the narrator and the author, the concept of focalization (which point of view the story is told from), and the structure of plot, often analyzed in terms of beginning, middle, and end, or more complex models like Freytag's pyramid. Time in narrative, such as flashback and flashforward, and the representation of characters, their motivations, and development are also central to the field.

Frásagnarfræði emerged as a distinct discipline in the mid-20th century, influenced by structuralist approaches and Russian formalism. It has since evolved to incorporate post-structuralist, feminist, and cognitive perspectives, broadening its scope and methodologies. While often associated with literary analysis, its principles are applicable to any form of storytelling, offering a framework for understanding the universal human impulse to create and consume narratives. The goal is not to judge the quality of a story but to dissect its mechanics and understand its impact.