An Analysis Of Plot Structure And Narrative Discourse Of The Great Gatsby And Martin Eden

Based on Todorov's theory on narrative grammar and Genette's theory on narrative discourse, this thesis examines the plot structure and narrative discourse of The Great Gatsby and Martin Eden. Through the step-by-step reduction of the stories into abstract propositions, the conclusion is reached that the plot of both stories comes down to three verbs, to perceive, to pursue and to procure in the proposition: X perceives, pursues, yet does not procure Y. After analyzing the moods of such predicates and the types of the proposition in the sequence, the thesis holds that the expression of tragedy lies in this proposition. With both quantitative and qualitative analyses of the exhaustive materials from both novels, this thesis displays their differences and similarities, concerning narrative duration, frequency, mood and voice. In Martin Eden the central narrative movement is summary; this novel frequently uses iterations of various kinds; events in the narrative are based on the cultural phenomena of personal development in American tradition; various forms of inner speech abounds; the focalization is zero one; this novel is a form of subsequent narrating and a heterodiegetic narrative. In The Great Gatsby the central movement is scene; it is composed of singulative narrative; characters' speeches are in the form of reported speech; the focalization is internal one; it is also a form of subsequent narrating and a homodiegetic.