DIFFUSIVE AND LABYRINTH NARRATIVE UNCERTAINTY IN ENGLISH POSTMODERN SHORT-SHORT STORIES

Abstract

In the article there is grounded the notion of diffusive and labyrinth narrative uncertainty in English postmodern short-short stories. In our investigation, there is proved that the emergence of narrative uncertainty is caused by specific narrative techniques such as diffusion and labyrinth which we identify manifestations of the narrative-rhizomatic principle of text form. Thus, the basis of narrative uncertainty creation is the mixture of a narrative technique (diffusion or labyrinth), compositional modifications and linguo-stylistic devices (irony, lexical repetition, personification). Uncertainty as a transversal postmodern idea is traced in experimental texts through unconventional text building, modified text compositional structure. Narrator of a short-short story creates a narrative with the purpose of establishing a permanent hesitation in the interpreting at each level of text compositional structure. Thus, the emergence of compositional modifications can be observed at content level, formal level, and formal-content level which create a specific symbol at figurative-symbolic level. Compositional modifications at one of the abovementioned levels serve as the principal agent of the specific type of narrative uncertainty creation — diffusive or labyrinth narrative uncertainty. A preliminary analysis of English postmodern short-short stories has shown that compositional modifications at the formal and formal-content levels function as a key forming agent for diffusive narrative uncertainty. As to labyrinth narrative uncertainty, compositional modifications at content level, formal level, and formal-content are dominant. The leading role in the uncertainty formation belongs to narrator. Narrator builds a narrative in such a manner that it becomes complicated to interpret. That fact characterize narrator as unreliable storyteller. Diffusive narrative uncertainty is actualized by means of multiple narrator, whereas labyrinth narrative uncertainty through heterodiegetic narrator in extradiegetic situation. Perception of English postmodern short-short stories with the expressions of narrative uncertainty demands from narratator (reader) flexible mindset, openness to different interpretations and readiness for active usage of cognitive skills.