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Chapter 2. Present tense in fiction

A historical overview
  • Reiko Ikeo , Eri Shigematsu and Masayuki Nakao
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A Corpus Stylistics Approach to Contemporary Present-tense Narrative
This chapter is in the book A Corpus Stylistics Approach to Contemporary Present-tense Narrative

Abstract

Present-tense narrative is expanding its boundaries beyond prototypical narrative conventions. In producing a present-tense narrative, writers give the grammatical tense more diverse and versatile meanings than before, making the distinction between the narrating time and the narrated time unclear. This chapter surveys how the present tense has taken on the function of a narrative tense alongside the past tense in relation to the textual realisation of narrative time. Section 2.1 gives a very brief historical sketch of its usage in English literature from Middle English verse narrative to contemporary present-tense narrative. Section 2.2 illustrates the typical usages of the present tense in past-tense narrative whose narrative premise is set explicitly in past time: the deictic present (2.2.1), the historical present (2.2.2), and the character-deictic present (2.2.3). Their relation to the narrative time frames, and their narrative functions and effects are also discussed. Section 2.3 focuses on the expanded usage of the present tense in contemporary narrative fiction, that is, the narrative present which is used in narrative throughout and functions as the primary narrative tense. This diachronic overview of the narrative use of the present tense will support the more detailed corpus-stylistic analysis of contemporary uses.

Abstract

Present-tense narrative is expanding its boundaries beyond prototypical narrative conventions. In producing a present-tense narrative, writers give the grammatical tense more diverse and versatile meanings than before, making the distinction between the narrating time and the narrated time unclear. This chapter surveys how the present tense has taken on the function of a narrative tense alongside the past tense in relation to the textual realisation of narrative time. Section 2.1 gives a very brief historical sketch of its usage in English literature from Middle English verse narrative to contemporary present-tense narrative. Section 2.2 illustrates the typical usages of the present tense in past-tense narrative whose narrative premise is set explicitly in past time: the deictic present (2.2.1), the historical present (2.2.2), and the character-deictic present (2.2.3). Their relation to the narrative time frames, and their narrative functions and effects are also discussed. Section 2.3 focuses on the expanded usage of the present tense in contemporary narrative fiction, that is, the narrative present which is used in narrative throughout and functions as the primary narrative tense. This diachronic overview of the narrative use of the present tense will support the more detailed corpus-stylistic analysis of contemporary uses.

Chapters in this book

  1. 日本言語政策学会 / Japan Association for Language Policy. 言語政策 / Language Policy 10. 2014 i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgements ix
  4. List of tables xi
  5. List of figures xvii
  6. List of abbreviations xix
  7. Chapter 1. Narrative tense 1
  8. Chapter 2. Present tense in fiction 16
  9. Chapter 3. Corpus stylistics and our corpora 34
  10. Chapter 4. The Semino and Short model and the annotation of PREST and PAST 47
  11. Chapter 5. Comparisons of lexis and grammatical structures in PREST and PAST 71
  12. Chapter 6. Comparisons of speech presentation in PREST and PAST 97
  13. Chapter 7. Comparisons of writing presentation in PREST and PAST 144
  14. Chapter 8. Comparisons of thought presentation in PREST and PAST 156
  15. Chapter 9. Comparisons of narration in PREST and PAST 210
  16. Chapter 10. Conclusion 245
  17. Titles of novels and short stories in the corpora 257
  18. References 260
  19. Index 267
https://doi.org/10.1075/lal.43.c2

Chapters in this book

  1. 日本言語政策学会 / Japan Association for Language Policy. 言語政策 / Language Policy 10. 2014 i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Acknowledgements ix
  4. List of tables xi
  5. List of figures xvii
  6. List of abbreviations xix
  7. Chapter 1. Narrative tense 1
  8. Chapter 2. Present tense in fiction 16
  9. Chapter 3. Corpus stylistics and our corpora 34
  10. Chapter 4. The Semino and Short model and the annotation of PREST and PAST 47
  11. Chapter 5. Comparisons of lexis and grammatical structures in PREST and PAST 71
  12. Chapter 6. Comparisons of speech presentation in PREST and PAST 97
  13. Chapter 7. Comparisons of writing presentation in PREST and PAST 144
  14. Chapter 8. Comparisons of thought presentation in PREST and PAST 156
  15. Chapter 9. Comparisons of narration in PREST and PAST 210
  16. Chapter 10. Conclusion 245
  17. Titles of novels and short stories in the corpora 257
  18. References 260
  19. Index 267
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