CCLA01: Strangers to Ourselves: the Critical Study of Narrative

Week 2 (1): Story and Discourse

First, take a deep breath and relax. Read the stories (or here two versions of the story) for enjoyment, and note down issues you'd like to bring up in class.

This week's preparatory questions are more elaborate than will usually be required, and may take a little time to work through. I 've made them detailed in order to indicate the kind of preparatory work you might well do on your own, or in groups, for each seminar meeting.

Read the following texts:

Chatman, "Story and Narrative"

Pu Songling "The Painted Skin"

Pu Songling "Drawing the Human Skin" (Comic version)

Reading Strategies and Preparation

First read "The Painted Skin," and then "Drawing the Human Skin." Note down your responses to the stories.

Now read Chatman's "Story and Narrative" slowly, following the guidelines suggested for reading critical and theoretical essays. Try to clarify your understanding of the key terms "discourse," "story," "kernel," and "satellite," and be prepared to discuss them when we meet. Try to also note down a series of questions you have about Chatman's essay: areas where his argument is not clear, ideas you might have about extending his argument, and questions of how his analysis might be applied to narratives you are familiar with.

Return to "The Painted Skin" and "Drawing the Human Skin." Your 30-word summary of each tale will constitute a brief account of the "story". In "The Painted Skin," which elements of the story would you consider "kernels," and which "satellites"? Here's an example to get you thinking. Repeat the exercise with "Drawing the Human Skin." Which of the two versions contains more satellites? Why?

Now concentrate upon elements of discourse. Fill out the following table, or draw your own version of it. If you're unsure what an element of discourse is, reread the Chatman essay, and try to brainstorm about all those aspects of the text which are not part of the story. Some of these may correspond with aspects or features that you feel your summary of the text left out.

Finally, you might briefly ask yourself whether there any issues that arise from the stories for you which have not been addressed in your analysis using Chatman's ideas.