Narrative Techniques of Three Selected Ethiopian Hagiographies
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Date
1999-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Foreign and Ethiopian Scholars for example, Hayatt ( 1928), Ullendorf
(1945), Harden (1926), Amsalu (1976), etc. Claim that Ethiopian hagiographies
are devoid of literary qualities. Some of them even pointed out that these works
are completely 'non - indigenous' and there is 'no literature of national origin'.
In spite of these claims, however, Ethiopian hagiographies have exerted
considerable impacts on the country's literary - thinking. As Anteneh Awoke
(1 993) points out, for example, the <Amharic - didactic fiction> was profoundly
influenced by these works. The latter imitated some techniques from the
hagiographers. These religious manuscripts arrested readers' attentions not only
for their religious themes but al so for their techniques. However, much research
has not been done in these areas. Those who did are interested in the hi storical,
philosophical, political and theological issues of the manuscripts. This paper thus,
aims at analyzing the narrative structure, characterization and narrative time of the
three hagiographies under investigation (i.e. Gadla Gabra Manfas Qidus, Gabra
Krestos & Kerestos Samra
The thesis has six parts. The first chapter is the introductory part. It gives
background information on the research and the genre under considerat ion. The
second chapter is devoted to the theoreti cal part which deals with general
v
considerations of the narrative techniques. The third chapter is concerned with the
analysis of gadla Gabra Manfas Qidus, chapter four with gadlii Giibra Krestos and
chapter five with giidla Krestos Samra respecti vely. The sixth chapter is the
conclusion.
The three hagiographi es have different ways of arrangmg events and
actions, but they follow identical narrative structures. Their differences in stories
do not create differences in structural frameworks. The same is true of the roles of
the characters. There are different roles which the characters of the three gadls
play that clearly fit with Gremias's 'actants' . On the other hand, the hagiographers
use different ways of ordering of events and ac tions, give different emphasis to
different events and al so differ in their ways of repet itions.
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Keywords
Ethiopian Hagiographies