Discourse Representation

Modernist literature decidedly experiments with such modes of discourse representation as free indirect discourse (FID) to highlight the subjective nature of reality and reflect the estrangement of the modern subject. Accordingly, an analysis of discourse representation has proved to be integral in exploring Modernist narratives. The discourse representation in movies, however, has received little attention from film narratologists. After an overview of discourse representation in literature and film, the present paper examines Virginia Woolf’s modernist masterpiece Mrs Dalloway (1925) and its cinematic adaptation of the same title by Marleen Gorris (1997) and its interconnectedness to present characters’ subjectivities. The basic claim of this study is that the (free) indirect discourses of the novel are turned into free direct discourse in the movie using the technique of internal sound or flashback. Although there are instances of internal focalisation in this movie, they are so disjointed or short that the dominant discourse remains that of the narrator. Therefore, the findings of the present essay demonstrate that Gorris’ film is not creative enough to bring about effects equal to or beyond those produced by Woolf’s or reproduce the underlying forces of “difference” at play in Woolf’s text.  

This paper explores the typology of speech and thought representation in selected Quranic stories, utilizing narrative discourse to establish a theoretical and practical framework. It primarily focuses on renowned models such as Toolan (2001) and McHale's (1978) models, among others. After a thorough examination of these theoretical models, this paper aims to apply them using examples extracted from the Quranic stories. A notable finding suggests that the representation of speech and thought in the Quran ranges from a directly diegetic mode to an indirectly mimetic mode. This range contributes to the Quranic discourse being a vibrant and dynamic form of communication. The primary purpose of these aspects is to establish a dynamic and engaging interaction between the Quranic discourse and its audience. In general, the typology of speech and thought representation is closely linked to the oral nature of the Quranic discourse.