Narrative Space: A Theoretical and Applied Study of Fahrenheit 451 and The Journey of Ibn Fattouma

Research Abstract

This research investigates the concept of narrative space and its central role in shaping literary structures and meanings. It distinguishes between story space and discourse space highlighting how each contributes to the overall narrative framework. The study emphasizes space as a dynamic component intrinsically linked to time, characters, events, and place. Special attention is given to the interplay between space and time through Mikhail Bakhtin’s chronotope and Paul Ricœur’s philosophical approach to temporality and narrative. Drawing on an interdisciplinary methodology, the research explores the psychological and philosophical dimensions of space, particularly through Gaston Bachelard’s The Poetics of Space, which views intimate spaces as reflections of memory, imagination, and inner life. Furthermore, the study differentiates between physical and literary space, and examines social space as a site where collective traditions, identities, and interpersonal dynamics are enacted. By addressing these dimensions, the research contributes to a deeper understanding of space as a rich and meaningful element in narrative fiction.

Research Keywords

space- narrative- Bakhtin