TEXT-WORLDS IN J. K. ROWLING’S FANTASY DISCOURSE: BETWEEN FANTASY AND REALITY

Abstract

The purpose of the study, which is carried out within the framework of Text World Theory, is to investigate the role of transitional text-worlds in the discourse organization of the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling. Transitional text-worlds are regarded as world-switches; they occur wherever a magical character is placed in a realistic environment and brings about changes in it. Where the narrative moves from reality to fantasy, basic transitional text-worlds emerge mainly as a result of the introduction of new (magical) entities and objects. The opposite direction, from fantasy to reality, typically involves changes in three deictic text- world builders: entities, objects, and spatial parameters. Temporal parameters, along with the above deictic and referential elements, are typically activated in embedded transitional text-worlds (the latter being detours from the main narration that result from flashbacks, enactors’ discussions of past events, memories, etc.). In the seven-book-long story, transitional text-worlds act as linkers either between realistic and magical text-worlds (in the initial chapters) or between two magical text-worlds (in the intermediate chapters). When they occur at the end of a book, transitional text-worlds perform the function of linking two volumes: they suggest the emergence of another magical text-world. The absence of transitional text-worlds in the final chapters of the seventh book of the Harry Potter series implies the end of the whole story. Thus transitional text-worlds are used as a tool to organize the overall discourse structure of the fantasy chronicle.