In the Princess Bride, there are two narrators who both break into the story to put in their own opinion. We have seen one narrator interrupt a story but not two; are there any ancient narratives like this?
Is Iocaine powder a real substance? Also, what is the significance of having names like Humperdink and Buttercup? Is it to make the story more comical?
Sara, Yes, any time you have frame narratives operating in a work, this can happen. We have had many frame narratives. I am thinking particularly of the Ephesian Tale, True History, and Plato's Symposium as examples for complex narrative structure where information is focalized from multiple points of view. The Symposium may be the most complex version that we have read, but other examples exist in epic poetry and in ancient history and romance.
Katie,
Iocane is fictional but the details given to it help to make it seem real. It is a typical fictive technique to add more detail to make something seem true.
Yes, the names are for comic effect, as Goldman said in an interview they are names that kids might invent.
Shannon, There are two main strands of the Echo story (two Echos?). The one in Ovid and elsewhere where Echo the nymph is punished by Hera/Juno and falls in love with Narcissus. The one here and elsewhere where Pan loves Echo (who may be a nymph or mortal as here) and later preserves her voice. What significance do you see in it? Pan of course is important in _Daphnis and Chloe_ and Echo being mortal makes her more easily comparable to Chloe.
In The Princess Bride, the editor jumps into the story on page 73 to explain how and why he cut out the authors comments about his wife.
What was the author's purpose in including his wife's sentiments about the writing? Could it be that since the author was writing a love story, he wanted to show his own wife's love and support for him?
Sara Welish
ReplyDeleteIn the Princess Bride, there are two narrators who both break into the story to put in their own opinion. We have seen one narrator interrupt a story but not two; are there any ancient narratives like this?
Katie Burke
ReplyDeleteIs Iocaine powder a real substance?
Also, what is the significance of having names like Humperdink and Buttercup? Is it to make the story more comical?
Shannon Potts
ReplyDeleteIs it significant that the story of Echo has been changed in the story of Daphis and Chloe?
Sara,
ReplyDeleteYes, any time you have frame narratives operating in a work, this can happen. We have had many frame narratives. I am thinking particularly of the Ephesian Tale, True History, and Plato's Symposium as examples for complex narrative structure where information is focalized from multiple points of view. The Symposium may be the most complex version that we have read, but other examples exist in epic poetry and in ancient history and romance.
Katie,
Iocane is fictional but the details given to it help to make it seem real. It is a typical fictive technique to add more detail to make something seem true.
Yes, the names are for comic effect, as Goldman said in an interview they are names that kids might invent.
Shannon,
There are two main strands of the Echo story (two Echos?). The one in Ovid and elsewhere where Echo the nymph is punished by Hera/Juno and falls in love with Narcissus. The one here and elsewhere where Pan loves Echo (who may be a nymph or mortal as here) and later preserves her voice.
What significance do you see in it? Pan of course is important in _Daphnis and Chloe_ and Echo being mortal makes her more easily comparable to Chloe.
AR
Steve Fusco
ReplyDeleteIn The Princess Bride, the editor jumps into the story on page 73 to explain how and why he cut out the authors comments about his wife.
What was the author's purpose in including his wife's sentiments about the writing? Could it be that since the author was writing a love story, he wanted to show his own wife's love and support for him?
Steve,
ReplyDeleteThat authorial statement is by the fictional author Morgenstern, not the real author Goldman who claims to be abridging Morgenstern's history.
Thus it is all meant tongue-in-cheek.
AR