Modern Narrative Strategies in 'Dozakhnama': Analysis through Gerard Gennet’s Structural Narratology

Abstract

The current study focuses on modern narrative theory, particularly emphasizing Gerard Genette's significant contributions to narratology, specifically his insights into three key narrative dimensions: text, focalization, and narration. A primary objective of the study is to conduct a critical analysis of Rabisankar Bal's novel "Dozakhnama." This novel comprises a series of short stories narrated by the author, depicting the lives of Mirza Asad Ullah Khan Ghalib and Saa’dat Hassan Manto. The researchers aim to highlight the novel's portrayal of life during the holocaust, emphasizing its thematic significance. The article, through qualitative textual analysis, explores the central concepts outlined in Genette's narrative analysis model, including analepsis (flashbacks) and prolepsis (foreshadowing). Additionally, it delves into the notion of focalization, a fundamental aspect of Genette's theory that distinguishes between the perspectives of the observer and the narrator, while also addressing the psychological aspect of focalization. Through the application of the principles of narratology to "Dozakhnama," the study aims to deepen our comprehension of the text and to enhance our appreciation of its narrative techniques.