Narrative Analysis

narrative analysis

Labov and Waletzky narrative model

It’s a framework used to analyze the structure of personal narratives in spoken language. Here’s a breakdown of the key aspects:

Structure:

 The model proposes six elements, though not all narratives will necessarily include every element:
  1. Abstract: An introductory part that summarizes the main point or upcoming story.
  2. Orientation: Sets the scene by providing background information about the characters, setting, and time.
  3. Complicating Action: Introduces the central event or problem that drives the narrative forward.
  4. Evaluation: This is the section we’ll focus on – it highlights the significance of the events and conveys the speaker’s judgment or emotional response.
  5. Resolution: Explains how the situation is resolved or the outcome of the events.
  6. Coda (optional): A concluding statement that might offer a final thought or moral of the story.

Focus of Evaluation:

The evaluation section is particularly crucial in Labov’s model. It’s where the speaker reflects on the events and expresses their personal perspective. This can be done through various means:

  • Explicit Statements: Directly expressing opinions or judgments (“That was the best pizza I ever had!”).
  • Moralizing: Highlighting a lesson learned or a general truth (“It just goes to show you that honesty is the best policy”).
  • Emotional Language: Using words that convey feelings (“It was terrifying!”).
  • Figurative Language: Employing metaphors, similes, or other figures of speech to add depth to the evaluation.

Importance:

The evaluation section helps us understand the speaker’s motivations for sharing the story and the meaning they attach to the events. It allows us to go beyond the factual details and delve into the subjective experience.

Additional Resources:

If you’d like to learn more about Labov’s model, you can check out these resources:

Here’s an example of Labov’s and Waletzky narrative model in action:

Story: Let’s say you’re talking to a friend about a time you overcame your fear of public speaking.

Abstract: (Optional, you might introduce the story by saying) “There was this time I had to give a big presentation in class, and let me tell you, I was terrified!”

Orientation: “So, in my public speaking class, we had this final project where we had to present our research in front of the whole class. Now, I’ve always hated public speaking – my palms get sweaty, my voice cracks, the whole nightmare.”

Complicating Action: “The day of the presentation arrived, and I was a wreck. I practiced my speech a million times, but I could just feel myself getting more and more nervous.”

Evaluation: “This was a big deal for me. I knew I had to do well, but my fear was getting in the way. It felt like I would faint if I had to stand up there.”

Resolution: “When my turn came, I took a deep breath and just went for it. I focused on my slides and spoke slowly and clearly. To my surprise, it wasn’t as bad as I thought. People actually seemed interested in my topic, and I even got some good questions afterwards.”

Coda: “Looking back, I’m really proud of myself for overcoming my fear. It wasn’t easy, but it definitely gave me a confidence boost.”

Breakdown:

  • This narrative includes all six elements of Labov’s model.
  • The abstract (optional) sets the stage for the story.
  • The orientation provides background information about the speaker’s fear of public speaking.
  • The complicating action introduces the main challenge – having to give the presentation.
  • The evaluation highlights the significance of the event and the speaker’s emotional response (fear).
  • The resolution describes how the speaker overcame the fear and delivered the presentation.
  • The coda (optional) offers a final reflection and emphasizes the positive outcome.

This is just a basic example, but it demonstrates how Labov’s model helps us understand the structure and meaning of personal narratives. By identifying these elements, we can gain insight into the speaker’s experiences and motivations.

Structural analysis

Greimas Actantial Model

Structural analysis, particularly in the context of Algirdas Julien Greimas’ work, offers a way to understand narratives and other forms of communication by looking at their underlying structures. Here’s a breakdown of some key points about Greimas and his approach:

Greimas’ Actantial Model:

This model is a central concept in Greimas’ work. It identifies six fundamental roles or functions that can be found in narratives:

  • Subject: The character who desires something and tries to obtain it.
  • Object: The goal or desired state that the Subject seeks.
  • Sender: The one who motivates the Subject and gives them a mission.
  • Receiver: The one who benefits if the Subject achieves their goal.
  • Helper: An ally who assists the Subject in their quest.
  • Oppositor: An adversary who hinders the Subject from achieving their goal.

Narrative Structure:

Greimas also proposed a narrative structure that follows a logical progression:

  • Manipulation: The Sender influences the Subject, creating a desire for the Object.
  • Competence: The Subject acquires the skills or resources needed to pursue the Object.
  • Performance: The Subject takes action to obtain the Object.
  • Sanction: The outcome of the Subject’s quest, resulting in either acquisition or loss of the Object.

Benefits of Greimas’ Approach:

  • Unveils Underlying Structures: Reveals the deeper meaning and logic behind narratives.
  • Applicable to Various Texts: Can be used to analyze myths, folktales, advertisements, and even social interactions.
  • Focuses on Functions: Highlights the roles characters play rather than their specific personalities.

Criticisms:

  • Oversimplification: Critics argue that the model can be overly simplistic and fail to capture the nuances of complex narratives.
  • Limited Focus on Language: The model primarily focuses on the structure of the narrative rather than the specific language used.

Further Exploration:

Here are some resources if you’d like to delve deeper into Greimas’ work:

An Example of structural analysis

Let’s use the classic fairy tale “Cinderella” as an example and apply Greimas’ Actantial Model:

Subject: Cinderella

Object: To attend the Prince’s ball and win his love (or at least his attention).

Sender: Her Fairy Godmother (who motivates her to go to the ball).

Receiver: Cinderella herself (who benefits from the experience and potential love).

Helper: The Fairy Godmother (who provides the magical means for Cinderella to attend the ball).

Oppositor: Cinderella’s stepmother and stepsisters (who try to prevent her from going to the ball).

Narrative Structure:

  • Manipulation: The Fairy Godmother appears and convinces Cinderella to attend the ball, sparking her desire to escape her dreary life.
  • Competence: With the Fairy Godmother’s magic, Cinderella acquires the beautiful dress, carriage, and other necessities to attend the ball.
  • Performance: Cinderella attends the ball, dances with the Prince, and captures his heart.
  • Sanction: Cinderella loses a slipper as she flees the ball at midnight, but ultimately reunites with the Prince and achieves her goal of love and escape from her servitude.

This is a simplified example, but it demonstrates how Greimas’ model helps us identify the driving forces and underlying functions within the story. It highlights that despite the obstacles (the stepmother and stepsisters), Cinderella (the Subject) is aided by the Fairy Godmother (the Helper) to achieve her desired outcome (the Object) of love and a better life (achieved through the Prince).

 

Hermeneutics Analysis

Hermeneutic analysis is a broad term encompassing various methods used to interpret and understand texts, communication, and even human interaction. Here’s a breakdown of its key features:

Core Principle:

  • Understanding through Interpretation: Hermeneutics emphasizes that meaning is not fixed or self-evident. It’s constructed and interpreted within specific contexts, including the historical, cultural, and personal backgrounds of both the creator and interpreter.

Applications:

  • Textual Analysis: Commonly used to analyze written works, but can also be applied to spoken language, visual media, and even social practices.
  • Focus on Meaning-Making: The goal is to uncover the deeper meanings and messages embedded within the subject of analysis.
  • Circular Process: Interpretation is seen as a cyclical process where the parts inform the whole and vice versa. As you analyze details, you gain a better understanding of the entire piece, and vice versa. This ongoing process leads to a richer interpretation.

Types of Hermeneutics:

  • Philosophical Hermeneutics: Focuses on the general theory of interpretation and understanding.
  • Literary Hermeneutics: Concerned with interpreting literary texts and their historical and cultural contexts.

Benefits:

  • Unveils Deeper Meanings: Helps us go beyond the surface level and understand the nuances and complexities of a text or phenomenon.
  • Acknowledges Context: Considers the historical, cultural, and social contexts that shape meaning.
  • Open to Diverse Perspectives: Recognizes that there can be multiple valid interpretations.

Things to Consider:

  • Subjectivity: The interpreter’s own background and biases can influence the analysis.
  • Time-Consuming: Can be a time-intensive process, especially when dealing with complex texts or phenomena.

Further Exploration:

Here are some resources if you’d like to learn more about hermeneutic analysis:

Hermeneutics and narrative analysis go hand in hand. Here’s how hermeneutic principles are applied to understand stories:

Focus on Interpretation:

  • Narratives are seen as vessels of meaning waiting to be interpreted. The interpreter (reader, listener) actively participates in creating meaning by drawing on their own experiences, background knowledge, and cultural context.

Circular Process:

  • Similar to Labov’s model with narratives, understanding unfolds in a circular way. As you interpret the story elements (plot, characters, setting), you gain a better understanding of the overall message. This, in turn, informs how you interpret the individual parts.

Importance of Context:

  • Hermeneutic analysis emphasizes the importance of context – historical, cultural, social – in shaping the meaning of the narrative. For example, a simple children’s story might hold deeper societal messages when considered within its historical context.

Multiple Interpretations:

  • Unlike structural analysis which seeks to identify a singular underlying structure, hermeneutics acknowledges the possibility of multiple valid interpretations. The story’s meaning can vary depending on the reader’s background and perspective.

Narrative Hermeneutics and Theorists:

  • Paul Ricoeur: A prominent theorist in this field, Ricoeur viewed narratives as a way for humans to understand themselves and their experiences. He proposed a three-part process of interpretation:

    1. Preunderstanding: The interpreter’s prior knowledge and experiences shape their initial understanding of the story.
    2. Explanation: Analyzing the story’s elements (plot, characters, etc.) to understand its internal structure and coherence.
    3. Reunderstanding: Integrating the interpreted story back into the interpreter’s own understanding of the world, potentially leading to a transformed perspective.

Benefits:

  • Unveiling Layers of Meaning: Helps us discover hidden messages, cultural references, and the story’s deeper significance.
  • Accounting for Reader Experience: Acknowledges the reader’s role in constructing meaning from the narrative.
  • Openness to Diverse Perspectives: Encourages critical thinking and fosters discussions about different interpretations.

Example:

Consider a simple folktale about a cunning fox outsmarts a slow-witted bear. A hermeneutic analysis might explore how this story reflects societal power dynamics or cultural values placed on intelligence versus strength.

Further Exploration:

Here are some resources for a deeper dive:

  • Narrative Hermeneutics | The Ethics of Storytelling [Oxford Academic resource unavailable]
  • Understanding Narrative Hermeneutics A different perspective on Narrative Hermeneutics, Jstor: [invalid URL removed]