The space in which a story takes place often plays a particularly important role in the story. The space contributes greatly to the atmosphere in the story and is indispensable in literature.
Definition of ‘space’
An environment that itself forms part of the told history. Space does not only consist of tangible things, space is also, for example, the air, the music that spins and the time frame in which history takes place.
The image of a room is always someone’s image, of the narrator or a character, so you can never be sure whether it actually looks exactly like this. Who knows, the character may lie or see things differently from others. When analyzing literature, you should take this into account.
Types of space
- Marked space: a space that can be located very precisely. (if it is very clearly described where the story takes place, what it looks like there, and so on)
- (Space) diffuse: if the place of action is left in the vague. (as in fairy tales; ‘a castle in a land far away)
- Local color: through the depiction of space information is given about the historical time or environment in which the story takes place.
- Implicit space: a space that is not described, but of which you still get a clear picture through the actions of a character.
Function of the space
The space is part of the concrete story level and can have different functions. Determining the function of a space for the meaning of the story is largely a matter of interpretation.
- Space is the cause or condition for the course of action
- Space can contribute to the atmosphere
- Space can serve for the composition of a story
- Space is used for characterization
- Space can contribute to the central meaning of a novel
- The space can be themed and support the main and / or ground motif
- Space can have a symbolic meaning