Aspect and narration applied to lyrical poetry

Abstract

This paper deals with the category of aspect and its usefulness in the characterisation of texts of lyrical poetry. The category of aspect has essentially to do with the way how the narrative moves forwards, and hence has an affinity to narrative structuring. The category has no direct manifestation in Danish grammar, yet its presence in the semantic structure may be inferred from certain constructions, and a number of characteristic aspect-marking phrases may be identified. In lyrical texts the characteristic aspectual meaning is static. This is demonstrated through two classical texts by Emil Aarestrup and Viggo Stuckenberg. Finally the minimal narrative element in lyrical poetry is demonstrated through an analysis of a modern poem by Per Højholt.

Keywords:

• aspect
• narration
• lyrical poetry
• semantics
• Danish literature

Notes

¹ These definitions are taken from Jørgensen (2009).

² This concept draws heavily upon Claude Bremond, cp. Bremond 1973: 32 and 309.

³ The concept of isotopy in this context draws mainly upon Greimas 1966 and Togeby 2003.

⁴ Cp. Dorsch (ed.) 1975 (1965): 41.

⁵ Jakobson 1956: 90-96.

⁶ Based on fn. 3, Smith 2004: 3.

⁷ This passage is an abbreviated version of Jørgensen 2001; the complete range of semantic markers of aspectuality is much longer than space allows here. The hierarchy between aspectual markers is not used in my analysis, but potentially it is a powerful analytical tool.

⁸ You may find a similar thesis in Colm Hogan 2003: 152-156; Colm Hogan also develops the connexions to other genres, like ballads and hymns.

⁹ A first version of the text (printed in 1974, cp. Iben Holk: Artister. Copenhagen: Borgen 1975: 96-7 and 230) ended with the words “… cafeteriet ved havet og…”, thus underlining the lack of resolution in the text. The final version is artistically superior due to the ironic way of resolving the tensions built up throughout the text.