ByzantinoslavicaRevue internationale des études byzantines

Datum publikování: 2025

Autor: Özdemir, Osman Y.

Abstrakt: This article examines the narratological concept of focalization as a structuring principle of characterization in Late Antique liturgical poetry. Using Romanos the Melodist’s (ca. 485–560 CE) kontakion On the Annunciation I as a case study, it argues that Romanos’ exegetical storytelling is driven not only by imagined speech, but by the interplay of diverging character perspectives. While previous scholarship has fruitfully explored the gendered dynamics of Romanos’ dialogical style – particularly Mary’s rhetorical agency – such analyses often treat characterization as static and isolate speech from broader narrative functions. By foregrounding focalization – the mediation of narrative information through the perceptions of characters – this study demonstrates how Romanos constructs dynamic character arcs. Over the course of “On the Annunciation I,” Mary’s characterization evolves from that of a reserved maiden to an articulate theological interlocutor, shaped by her internal deliberations and her shifting perception of Gabriel’s authority. Gabriel, in turn, is portrayed as uncertain and unprepared, grappling with the paradox of Mary’s multifaceted identity as both virgin and Theotokos. These conflicting characterizations, generated through divergent focalizations, do not merely enrich the characters; they constitute the theological core of Romanos’ retelling, allowing the kontakion to function as a dramatic, exegetical engagement with Scripture. In this context, focalization emerges as a powerful tool through which Romanos models interpretive inquiry for his audience – making characterization an act of theological reflection as much as literary construction.

Rozsah stran: s. 87–107

Status recenzování: recenzovaný článek

Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0