Narrator. Storyteller. When thinking about a person who narrates or tells a story, one of the first impressions that usually come to mind is that of a man or a woman, sitting in a well-worn rocking chair, surrounded by children who listen with rapt attention to tales of dragons and princesses. This image, depicting the classical oral storyteller as he has been known since ancient times, may at first glance have little to do with the narrative voice of a written work of literature. However, the oral storyteller and the narrator of a novel have many things in common. They both mediate the story to an audience - either to a real one that is physically present or to an impersonal reader of a book, and, depending on their technique, they are able to recount a story in a number of ways.
There are many different approaches to narrating a tale. A narrator can remain mostly in the background and simply relate the story to his readers or listeners, without any commentary of other interruptions, or he can narrate the story through his or her own eyes, using the first person singular and thus creating an intensely personal atmosphere and letting the audience experience the adventures almost first-hand. However, sometimes the narrator can become actively involved into the tale, but without actually being a part of it. He adds his own thoughts and opinions to the story, he speaks to the readers himself and actively guides them through his story.
Such a narrator is also present in Tolkien’s novel The Hobbit. So the topic of this paper will be to analyse the narrator of The Hobbit, and to determine his most characteristic features. It will be illustrated on the following pages that the narrator of The Hobbit is an intrusive authorial narrator who frequently comments on and judges the characters as well as the unfolding events, who is acutely aware of himself, his audience and his role as a storyteller, and who addressed his readers in a direct way and actively leads them through his narrative.
Furthermore it will be determined whether there are any obvious changes to the narrative voice in the last chapters of the book, which were written over three years after the rest of the novel.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The Voice of the Narrator in The Hobbit
- 2.1. Theoretical Aspects
- 2.2. The Narrative Situation in The Hobbit
- 2.2.1. On Narrative Situations
- 2.2.2. The Authorial Narrator in The Hobbit
- 2.3. Characterising the Narrator in The Hobbit
- 2.3.1. An Intrusive Commentator
- 2.3.2. An Outside Observer
- 2.3.3. The Self-Aware Narrator
- 2.3.4. Degree of Omniscience
- 2.3.5. Withholding Information
- 2.3.6. Changing the Point of View
- 2.3.7. Description of Scenery
- 2.4. Changes in the Narrative Voice
- 3. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
The main objective of this paper is to analyze the narrative voice in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and identify its key characteristics. The paper uses established narrative theories to categorize and explain the narrator's role and impact on the story.
- Classification of the narrator within established narrative theories.
- Analysis of the narrator's intrusive commentary and interaction with the reader.
- Examination of the narrator's level of omniscience and manipulation of information.
- Investigation of potential shifts in narrative voice throughout the novel.
- Exploration of the relationship between the narrator and the fictional world of The Hobbit.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the analysis by establishing a broad understanding of narration and story-telling, contrasting the classical oral storyteller with the narrator in written literature. It highlights the variety of narrative approaches, including background narration, first-person narration, and intrusive narration. The chapter specifically introduces the focus of the paper: a detailed examination of the narrative voice in Tolkien's The Hobbit, suggesting that the narrator is an intrusive authorial narrator with specific characteristics.
2. The Voice of the Narrator in The Hobbit: This chapter delves into the theoretical frameworks used to analyze the narrator in The Hobbit. It introduces the narrative theories of Franz K. Stanzel, focusing on the concepts of authorial, figural, and first-person narrative situations, and emphasizing the idea of 'mediacy'—the extent to which the narrator's voice is present or hidden. The chapter also introduces Wayne C. Booth's perspective on narrators, which will be used alongside Stanzel's theory to further characterize the narrator in The Hobbit. The chapter lays the groundwork for the subsequent detailed analysis of the narrative voice.
2.2 The Narrative Situation in The Hobbit: This section elaborates on Stanzel's three narrative situations: first-person, figural, and authorial. Each is explained in terms of the narrator's position in relation to the fictional world and the level of 'mediacy' involved. First-person narration is characterized by the narrator's immersion within the story, while authorial narration places the narrator outside the fictional world, often offering commentary and judgment. Figural narration, in contrast, utilizes a reflector character, allowing the reader to experience events through their eyes without direct narrator intervention. This theoretical background prepares the reader for the following analysis of the narrator in The Hobbit within this framework.
Keywords
Narrative voice, authorial narrator, intrusive narration, J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, narrative theory, Franz K. Stanzel, Wayne C. Booth, mediacy, narrative situation, omniscience.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of the Narrative Voice in J.R.R. Tolkien's *The Hobbit*
What is the main objective of this paper?
The primary goal is to analyze the narrative voice in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, identifying its key characteristics and classifying it within established narrative theories. The analysis examines the narrator's role, impact on the story, intrusive commentary, level of omniscience, and manipulation of information, including potential shifts in narrative voice.
What narrative theories are used in this analysis?
The paper primarily employs the narrative theories of Franz K. Stanzel, focusing on authorial, figural, and first-person narrative situations and the concept of "mediacy." It also incorporates Wayne C. Booth's perspective on narrators to provide a more comprehensive characterization of the narrator in The Hobbit.
How is the narrator in *The Hobbit* characterized?
The analysis suggests that the narrator in The Hobbit is an intrusive authorial narrator. Specific characteristics explored include the narrator's intrusive commentary, interaction with the reader, level of omniscience, manipulation of information, and potential shifts in narrative voice throughout the novel. The analysis also investigates the relationship between the narrator and the fictional world.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
Key themes include the classification of the narrator within established narrative theories, the analysis of the narrator's intrusive commentary and interaction with the reader, the examination of the narrator's level of omniscience and manipulation of information, the investigation of potential shifts in narrative voice, and the exploration of the relationship between the narrator and the fictional world of The Hobbit.
What are the chapter summaries?
Chapter 1 (Introduction): Introduces the concept of narration, contrasting oral and written storytelling, and highlights various narrative approaches. It sets the stage for a detailed examination of the narrative voice in The Hobbit, suggesting the narrator is an intrusive authorial narrator. Chapter 2 (The Voice of the Narrator in *The Hobbit*): Explores theoretical frameworks for analyzing the narrator, introducing Stanzel's and Booth's theories. It lays the groundwork for a detailed analysis of the narrative voice. Chapter 2.2 (The Narrative Situation in *The Hobbit*): Elaborates on Stanzel's three narrative situations (first-person, figural, and authorial), explaining each and preparing the reader for the analysis of the narrator in The Hobbit within this framework. Chapter 3 (Conclusion): [Summary not provided in the source material]
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
Narrative voice, authorial narrator, intrusive narration, J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, narrative theory, Franz K. Stanzel, Wayne C. Booth, mediacy, narrative situation, omniscience.
What is the structure of the provided text?
The text includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. It’s designed to provide a comprehensive preview of the analysis of the narrative voice in Tolkien's *The Hobbit*.
- Citar trabajo
- Nadja Litschko (Autor), 2006, The Voice of the Narrator in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/61292
