At the turn of the twentieth century German and French Linguists first mentioned the free indirect discourse (FID) while analysing Flaubert's use of the French imperfect tense. FID allows the author to embed the voice of the character into the voice of the narrator's voice. This is a brief introduction to the formal details of this style, embeded in a few pragnant examples.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Free Indirect Discourse
- Free Indirect Discourse in Selected Novels
- Jane Austen: Emma
- Henry James: Portrait of a Lady
- Virginia Woolf: Orlando
- James Joyce: Dubliners and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper analyzes the use of free indirect discourse (FID) in selected novels, exploring its function and effect on narrative perspective and characterization. The paper examines how FID contributes to the ambiguity of the discourse, blurring the boundaries between the narrator's voice and the character's thoughts and feelings.
- The definition and characteristics of free indirect discourse
- The ambiguity of FID and its impact on narrative perspective
- The role of FID in representing character consciousness and subjective experience
- The use of FID in different literary works, including Jane Austen's *Emma*, Henry James's *Portrait of a Lady*, Virginia Woolf's *Orlando*, and James Joyce's *Dubliners* and *A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man*.
- The comparison of FID with other narrative techniques, such as direct discourse and indirect discourse
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The first chapter defines free indirect discourse and contrasts it with direct and indirect discourse. It explores the linguistic features of FID and its relationship to the narrator's voice and the character's inner life.
The second chapter examines the use of FID in several key novels, highlighting its significance in shaping narrative perspective and character portrayal. The chapter focuses on Jane Austen's *Emma* and analyzes how FID contributes to the development of Emma's character and her relationship with other characters.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Free indirect discourse, narrative perspective, characterization, ambiguity, consciousness, subjective experience, Jane Austen, *Emma*, direct discourse, indirect discourse, literary analysis.
- Quote paper
- Eva Maria Mauter (Author), 2007, Free Indirect Discourse in Selected Novels, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/73698
