Applying Narrative Time Techniques in Lam-Yazra’ Barren Land: A Genettian Study

The narrative time and various aspects of time serve multiple functions in fiction. One notable work that offers a unique perspective on narrative techniques is Mohammad Reza Bayrami’s "The Barren Land." Ttime plays a crucial role in the narrative structure of this novel, and the concept of narrative time is integral to the critique of literary works. In this study, the authors employ an inductive method to explore the components of narrative time through three key aspects: order, duration, and frequency, based on Genette’s theory. The outcomes of the study indicate that analepsis is the fundamental device in Bayrami’s narrative technique. Internal analepsis, which involves the protagonist's mental review of memories, is frequently employed to illustrate his subjectivity. Additionally, proleptic anachrony highlights the tensions and concerns of the main characters. Furthermore, Bayrami utilizes positive speed in character introductions, primarily driven by dialogue, along with singulative frequency to enhance this positive speed. The author also incorporates repetitive and iterative frequencies as part of his narrative style to convey the characters' behavioral habits.
Introduction:
Lam-Yazra’ (Barren Land) by Mohammadreza Bayrami is a significant work of contemporary Iranian fiction, notable for its unique approach to narrative time. By employing a non-Iranian narrator and incorporating a surprising conclusion, Bayrami effectively illustrates the oppression of Iraqi Shiites during the eight years of the Iraq-Iran War, challenging conventional narrative structures. Lam-Yazra features a non-linear timeline, with events unfolding across three temporal dimensions: past, present, and future. The present narrative chronicles the life of the protagonist, Saadoun, from the moment he is arrested during military service to his eventual death at the hands of his father. The past primarily reflects Saadoun’s experiences prior to his military conscription, particularly his memories of Ahli, a Sunni girl from a nearby village. The future narrative conveys Saadoun's dreams and fantasies about his life with Ahli after their meeting. From a certain point in the story, these three temporal dimensions intersect and oscillate along parallel axes. This interplay, along with other elements such as selective narrative omissions, brevity, unexpected plot twists, descriptive pauses, and the fictional setting, enriches the text and offers diverse opportunities for analysis regarding narrativity and the concept of narrative time.
Methodology:
The present study utilized library research and statistical data extraction techniques to analyze evidence and examples from the novel. The primary objective of this research is to explore the relationships and intratextual coherence within the narrative of Lam-Yazra’ (Barren Land) through the lens of Gérard Genette’s analysis of narrative time. Consequently, the study aims to address two fundamental questions: What purposes does the author serve by employing retrospective and prospective chronology in Lam-Yazra’ (Barren Land)? What factors influence the narrative speed of Lam-Yazra’ (Barren Land)? Additionally, how is the representation of singular, repeated, and recurring frequencies depicted in the novel’s plot?
Results and Discussion:
Using the element of time, the writer establishes a causal connection between the primary and secondary events, organizing all actions and occurrences within the plot accordingly. Based on his preferences and perceptions, the writer creates coherence in the story's plot by manipulating the sequence of events, moving them forward and backward in time, and adjusting the pace of their narration to either speed up or slow down the unfolding of the story.
The element of in most stories; however, only a few modern Iranian novels have consciously or unconsciously utilized the concept of as a crucial element that decisively shapes the narrative. This approach provides the entire text with a distinct structure. The researchers of the present study contend that Lam-Yazra’ (Barren Land) is one such novel.
Gérard Genette proposed three key components of narrative time: the section on he explored the relationship between the sequence of events in a story and their linear arrangement and pattern within the text. In the section on he analyzed the relationship between the time allocated to the events of the story and the amount of text dedicated to narrating those events. In the section on Genette examined the relationship between the number of times an event is mentioned in the story and the number of times it is narrated in the text. This study discusses and analyzes the components of narrative time within these three categories as they pertain to Lam-Yazra’ (Barren Land).
Conclusion:
Bayrami predominantly employs both retrospective and prospective narratives in his novel. In this context, the past serves as the central element of the story, frequently illustrating the memories of the main character. Additionally, the concept of future timelessness reflects the spiritual turmoil and concerns of this character. In terms of narrative duration, the author utilizes all three types of narrative speed: positive, negative, and constant. However, due to the dialogue-driven structure of the novel, positive narrative speed is more prevalent than negative or constant speeds. In many sections, the dialogues—serving as the most evident indicator of constant narrative speed—transform the novel into a theatrical experience, allowing Bayrami to introduce characters and explore their inner thoughts. The author also employs brevity, omission, and summary as key elements of positive narrative speed throughout the novel. Conversely, negative narrative speed occupies a smaller portion of the story compared to constant or positive speeds. To convey the atmosphere of war in various scenes, Bayrami enhances the narrative's allure, tension, and suspense by employing various techniques, such as descriptive pauses, spacing, and articulating the individual concerns of the main character. Regarding the narrative element of frequency, it is important to note that the dominant frequency in Lam-Yazra’ (Barren Land) is the singulative frequency. However, the repetitive frequency also plays a significant role in the novel, as it recalls the past memories of the main character.