Analysis of a novel by Robert Desnos from a narratological perspective (From the objective narrative system to the abstract narrative system)

Khodadadi Ghelichi, Malihe; Z, M; Rahim, P

doi:10.22034/jlc.2025.527324.1738

Analysis of a novel by Robert Desnos from a narratological perspective (From the objective narrative system to the abstract narrative system)

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

malihe khodadadi ghelichi

m z

p rahim

Islamic Azad University, central Tehran branch

10.22034/jlc.2025.527324.1738

Abstract

Abstract
This study adopts a narratological perspective to examine the structure and narrative techniques in The Spilled Wine, a novel by Robert Desnos, written within the framework oftwentieth-century surrealist literature. The work is marked by its innovative approach to storytelling. The central objective of this research is to analyze the integration of temporal, spatial, and intertextual elements within a nonlinear, multilayered narrative that deliberately dissolves the boundaries between reality and imagination. The article aims to reveal the semantic and narrative architecture of the novel and to elucidate their function in shaping a surrealist reading experience. Drawing on Gérard Genette’s theories of time, focalization, and narrative voice, as well as Julia Kristeva’s concept of intertextuality, the study explores how Desnosemploys techniques such as narrative focalization shifts, anachrony, and intertextual references to construct a complex, subjective narrative universe. The findings indicate that The Spilled Wine is innovative not only in its content but also in its narrative form, effectively representing the inner experiences of its characters. This analysis contributes to adeeper understanding of the role of narrative in surrealist literature and highlights Desnos’s significant role in its development

Keywords

Narratology

Robert Desnos

Surrealism

Intertextuality

Narrative Time

Subjects