Chronotopic Polyphony in Modernist Novel Structure

Abstract

The present paper studies the intricate interplay of time and space in the narrative structure of modernist novel focusing specifically on the concept of “chronotopic polyphony”. I will argue that modernist texts are marked by a radical polychronotopical structure. Drawing on Mikhail Bakhtin’s theories of chronotope and polyphony, the study delves into how modernist authors manipulate temporal and spatial elements to create complex narrative structures characterized by multiple voices and temporal layers. By examining the ways in which chronotopic polyphony serves as a narrative strategy for representing the subjective perception of time and space as well as the interconnectedness of individual consciousnesses within the fabric of the narrative, the paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the formal innovations and thematic concerns of modernist literature. Through close textual analysis and theoretical inquiry, it sheds light on the way in which the authors grapples with the complexities of time, memory and narrative representation in the modern era.