FOCALIZATION IN MUNRO’S “SOMETHING I’VE BEEN MEANING TO TELL YOU” – COGNITIVE POETICS IN PRACTICE

Abstract

The paper explores the dimensions of focalization from the point of view of cognitive poetics leaning on the idea that focalization directly affects the reading experience and, therefore, the reception of the narrative discourse. The importance of deixis, their referential value in the storytelling process and reception, is illustrated on the example of the short story “Something I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You” by Alice Munro. Focalization is treated as a rhetorical instrument modifying various layers of the narrative discourse and strategically guiding the process of reception. The first section presents the theories relevant for the understanding of the concept of focalization, and it includes a short overview of deixis from the point of view of cognitive poetics. The analysis of the short story by Alice Munro follows to serve as an illustration of the rhetorical flexibility of storytelling. Finally, the concluding remarks offer arguments against the conventional comprehension and interpretation of third-person narration.