Narratological Analysis of Kafka on the Shore

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Narratological Analysis of Kafka on the Shore

2 Professor at Faculty of Drama and Music, the University of Tehran, Tehran, I.R. Iran

Abstract

 
Haruki Murakami is one of the most well-known authors in contemporary world literature. Kafke on the Shore is considered amongst his best novels. In this essay, this novel is analyzed from narratology perspective and in this regard, narratological and mythological approaches are used. To this end, after looking at Roland Barthes’ attitude towards narratology, the narrative of the novel is shown in a table. Besides, a passage rite pattern which leads the protagonist towards maturity is examined using Joseph Campbell’s theory in The Hero with a Thousand Faces. In the end, this article attempts at answering the question of how a narrative uses mythological pattern of passage and maturity in a contemporary novel and how this Universalist rite is presented in different cultures and various narratives.

Keywords

References

 
- Barthes, Roland (1382/ 2003), Naghd va Haghighat (Criticism and Truth), trans. Shirindokht Daghighian, 2nd ed., Tehran: Markaz Publication.
- --- (1974), S/Z: an Essay, trans. Richard Miller, New York: Hill & Wang.
- --- (1975), an Introduction to the Structural Analysis of Narrative, trans. Lionel Duisit, New Literary History, Vol. 6, No. 2, on Narrative and Narratives (Winter), pp. 237-272.
- Campbell, Joseph (1387/ 2008), Ghahreman Hezar Chehreh (Hero with Thousand Faces), trans. Shadi Khosropanah, 3d ed., Mashhad: Gole Aftab Publication.
-Culler, Jonathan (2001), the Pursuit of Signs: Semiotics, Literature, Deconstruction, Routledge Classics ed., London: Routledge.
- Diodorus Siculus, Library of History Book IV 4.6.5 (translated by Charles Henry Oldfather) at Theoi.com
- Fludernik, Monika (2009), an Introduction to Narratology, Routledge, London
- Murakami, Haruki (1387/ 2008), Kafka dar Karaneh (Kafka on the Shore), trans. Mehdi Ghabrae, 2nd ed., Tehran: Nilufar Publication.
 
Research in Contemporary World Literature
Volume 20, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
Spring&Summer
April 2015
Pages 59-75

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