Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Literature

Extract

The term frame is used in a metaphorical sense when applied to the novel. It borrows from the idea of a frame to a painting and is primarily used to denote borders and levels within the narrative, or how the actions and words of the fictional characters are shaped and presented to the reader. In theory, therefore, the metaphor suggests that a novel has stable and clearly defined boundaries. It also intrinsically implies a clear dichotomy between “outer” and “inner” worlds. This is most clearly the case where the frame narrator's account of events is portrayed as objective, in contrast to the subjectivity of the inset narratives. The extent to which this framing is foregrounded and overt may vary considerably, but the device typically serves to remind readers that the story world is separate from their own and draws attention to the act of telling and to the figure of the storyteller, casting doubt on the extent to which any one telling will suffice. Frame theory or frame analysis borrows more specifically from the work of Erving Goffman on the discourse markers we use to enclose or bracket aspects of our everyday talk. For example where we initiate a story within a conversational setting, we would typically signal this by using familiar locutions such as “Once upon a time,” or “Let me tell you a story.” Goffman's theory has been applied to the novel, particularly the framing of ... log in or subscribe to read full text