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The “Disnarrated” in Les Cent nouvelles nouvelles
Author(s) -
Baker Mary J.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
orbis litterarum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.109
H-Index - 8
eISSN - 1600-0730
pISSN - 0105-7510
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0730.1995.tb00087.x
Subject(s) - novella , structuring , closure (psychology) , relevance (law) , representation (politics) , characterization (materials science) , literature , history , art , epistemology , philosophy , physics , political science , optics , law , politics
The representation of the “disnarrated,” (references to events that do not occur, but could have), can be pertinent to the study of early short fiction, as is illustrated by an analysis of two tales in Les Cent nouvelles nouvelles (c. 1462), France's first novella collection. These stories demonstrate the important use of the disnarrated as a structuring principle. In one case the disnarrated functions to thwart closure; in the other, it functions to prepare and effect closure. Close examination of these two stories reveals the versatility of the disnarrated as a structuring principle, and also its relevance as a characterization device.