Practice question · Multiple choice
Genette distinguishes internal anachronies from external ones based on their temporal boundaries. Why does this distinction fundamentally matter for how a reader interprets the plot?
Hints
- Where does each type of anachrony fall in relation to the main narrative's starting point?
- Which variety actually intersects with events the reader has already witnessed?
Show the answer
A. Internal anachronies can retrospectively alter events already related
Why
Conflating narrative functions leads readers to confuse mere exposition with plot revision. External anachronies strictly supply prior context without modifying the established sequence, whereas internal ones intrude upon the already-narrated timeline to force reinterpretation.
Practise Narratology I. Story, Discourse and Order
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More questions on Narratology I. Story, Discourse and Order
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