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Chronotope - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

A chronotope is a literary concept that describes how time and space are interconnected in a narrative. It helps analyze how settings and events shape a story’s meaning and structure.

chronotope

/ˈkrɑnəˌtoʊp/ /ˈkrɒnəˌtəʊp/

Definition:

A literary concept describing the interconnectedness of time and space in narrative settings.

Synonyms:

time-space, narrative setting, temporal-spatial framework

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

timelessness, spacelessness

Common Collocations:

narrative structure, literary analysis, Bakhtinian theory

Derivatives:

chronotopic, chronotopically

Usage Tips:

Use "chronotope" when discussing how time and space shape a story’s meaning or atmosphere in literature.

Common Phrases:

Bakhtin’s chronotope, chronotopic analysis, narrative chronotope

Etymology:

From Greek "chronos" (time) and "topos" (place), coined by Mikhail Bakhtin in literary theory.

Examples:

  • 1. The novel’s chronotope blends past and present seamlessly.
  • 2. Bakhtin introduced the chronotope to analyze time-space relationships in stories.
  • 3. The film’s surreal chronotope disorients viewers intentionally.
  • 4. Fairy tales often feature a magical chronotope distinct from reality.

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