NARRATIVE PACE: THE ROLE OF TEMPORALITY IN ELIF SHAFAK’S 10 MINUTES 38 SECONDS IN THIS STRANGE WORLD

Abstract

This paper aims at the analysis of narrative pace of Elif Shafak’s 10 Minutes and 38 Seconds in this Strange World through Genatte’s narratological theory of time. In a narrative pace fundamental dichotomies by Genette are ‘story time’ and ‘discourse time’. Moreover, this paper also provides insights into the process of time shifts in the novel. The character Leila’s brain remains 10 minutes alive after her heart stops beating. In retrospect, she relives her whole life in 10 minutes. Gennette’s concept of ‘order’ and ‘duration’ are focused in delineation of the narrative temporality. Narrative shifts are hewed through technical choices of craft and figurative language. Sequential events in the plot of the novel are not arranged linear time frame and it descends into a ceased stride of events.