Literary Analysis: Narrative Structure, Poetic Meter, and Syntax

Literary Narrative: Structure and Subgenres

Defining the Epic and Narrative

The epic or narrative is composed of literary works in which the author uses the voice of a narrator to tell a story. The narrator is a central figure in narrative works. The narrator tells the story, detailing the events located in space and time, describing places and people, introducing dialogues, and weaving the plot or argument.

Subgenres of the Epic

The epic has many subgenres. The most prominent include:

• In Verse: The epic poem and romance in verse.
• In Prose: The novel, the story (short story), and the legend.

In Unit 11 we explore in detail the major subgenre of literary narrative.

Verse Meter and Syllable Count

Classification by Extent

Verses are classified according to their measured extent (syllable count). There are two main kinds of verses:

• Minor Art Verses (Arte Menor): They have from two to eight metric syllables.
• Major Art Verses (Arte Mayor): They have nine or more metric syllables.

Composed Verses and Hemistichs

Verses of twelve or more syllables are usually composed verses, meaning the verse is composed of two parts separated by a pause or caesura. Each part is called a hemistich. For syllabic computation, the hemistiches are considered independent units which combine their measures. The following verses, for example, have fourteen syllables and are formed by two hemistiches of seven syllables (the sign // marks the caesura).

Syllable Classification

The names of verses according to their syllable count are:

Minor Art (2 to 8 Syllables)

• Two syllables: Disyllabic
• Three syllables: Trisyllabic
• Four syllables: Tetrasyllabic
• Five syllables: Pentasyllabic
• Six syllables: Hexasyllabic
• Seven syllables: Heptasyllabic
• Eight syllables: Octosyllable

Major Art (9+ Syllables)

• Nine syllables: Enneasyllable
• Ten syllables: Decasyllabic
• Eleven syllables: Hendecasyllable
• Twelve syllables: Dodecasyllabic
• Thirteen syllables: Tridecasyllabic
• Fourteen syllables: Alexandrine

Understanding Grammatical Complements

The Predicative Complement (C. Pred.)

The predicative complement (C. Pred.) is a complement in sentences that accompanies the verbal predicate, expressing a quality or state of the noun it refers to. Example: Sea water tastes bitter.

The following can function as a predicative complement:

• Adjective
• Noun phrase without preposition
• Noun phrases with prepositions
• Adverbs

Recognition of the Predicative Complement

The predicative complement differs from other supplements due to the following features:

1. It is the only addition to the verbal predicate that refers to a noun, with which it agrees in gender and number whenever possible.
2. It cannot be replaced by any unstressed personal pronoun.
3. It can, however, be replaced by the adverb well or by the demonstrative that.

Summary of Grammatical Roles and Tests

The following are common tests for identifying grammatical roles:

• Subject: who
• Direct Object (OD): who / whom
• Indirect Object (OI) / Circumstantial Complement (CC): why, when, where, how
• Attribute: ERCP be be or appear: as aldatu Leike (Note: This fragmented phrase is preserved as written.)