Folklore and Theology in the Structure and Narrative Strategies of "The Pilgrim's Progress"

• Published in: Bunyan studies Vol. 9; no. 9; p. 7
• Main Author: Hancock, Maxine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Bunyan Studies 01.01.1999; Northumbria University, Department of Humanities, Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences
• Subjects: British & Irish literature; Bunyan, John (1628-1688); English literature; Folklore
• ISSN: 0954-0970

[...]once they have crossed the river, 'they had the City it self in view' (p. 161). [T]ripling in and of itself . . . provides certain organizational resources, but they are further increased by differentiation, polarization, intensification or diminution, and by accentuation in the form of emphasis on the final element.12 In terms of Claude Bremond's 'logic of narrative possibilities', the three large narrative units of The Pilgrim's Progress exemplify the 'elementary sequence' or 'three obligatory phases of any process: a function which opens the process in the form of an act to be carried out or of an event which is foreseen; a function which achieves this virtuality in the form of an actual act or event; and a function which closes the process in the form of an attained result'.'3 Bremond charts this as 'Virtuality' (e.g. goal to be obtained) leading to 'Actualization' (e.g. act necessary to attain goal) or 'Absence of actualization' (e.g. inertia, impediment to action) leading to the 'Outcome', either of 'Goal Attained' (e.g. act successful) or of 'Goal not attained' (e.g., action fails to achieve goal.) The triplet form of this basic analysis of narrative accords well with my observations concerning folk-narrative and The Pilgrim's Progress. [...]in the third section, the pilgrim and his companions move into a state, 'upon the Borders of Heaven. [...]it was so late that the whole house was in darkness.