SOMEBODY TELLING SOMEBODY ELSE IBD

Sinopse

InáSomebody Telling Somebody Else, James Phelan proposes a paradigm shift for narrative theory, a turn from viewing narrative as a structure to viewing it as a rhetorical action in which a teller selectively deploys the resources of storytelling in order to accomplish particular purposes in relation to particular audiences. Phelan explores the consequences of this shift for an understanding of various elements of narrative, including reliable and unreliable narration, character-character dialogue, and occasions of narration. á In doing so, he offers new readings of a wide range of narratives from Jane AustenâÇÖsáPride and Prejudiceáto Joan DidionâÇÖsáThe Year of Magical Thinking, from Joseph ConradâÇÖsáLord Jimáto George V. HigginsâÇÖsáThe Friends of Eddie Coyle,áfrom Franz KafkaâÇÖs 'Das Urteil' to Toni MorrisonâÇÖs 'Recitatif,' from David SmallâÇÖsáStitchesáto Jhumpa LahiriâÇÖs 'Third and Final Continent,' from John OâÇÖHaraâÇÖs 'Appearances' to Ian McEwanâÇÖsáEnduring Love.á Phelan contends that the standard view of narrative as a synthesis of story and discourse is inadequate to handle the complexities of narrative communication, and he demonstrates the greater explanatory power of his rhetorical view.á Furthermore, Phelan gives new prominence to the presence and activity of the 'somebody else,' as he shows that an audienceâÇÖs unfolding responses to a narrative often influence its very construction. á