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A revolution in writing: the overthrow of epic storytelling by written narrative in Kafka's 'Josefine, die Sangerin.'

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From: Symposium
Date: 19930101
Author:Vitzthum, Thomas

Kafka's story 'Josefine, die Sangerin, oder das Volk der Mause' represents narrative history through the narrator's defeat of Josefine. Josefine represents the epic storyteller standing at the inception of that history while the narrator represents the use of writing to undermine that tradition. Kafka depicts the change as a revolution, in which the narrator's irony subverts the oral tradition, rather than a gradual development. The narrator is interested in preserving Josefine's memory as an individual artist while the folk place more importance on the tradition.

FRANZ KAFKA'S Josefine, ...

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