The Art of Storytelling in the Epic of Aqhat Some Observations on the Design of Time

Abstract

Embracing a structural approach and applying modern narratological theory is a useful tool for exploring the poetics of Ugaritic epic and can account for various effects that the text exercises upon listeners. The relationship between the three layers of a narrative (fabula, suzjet, and text) affect inter alia the focus, tempo, and order of the delivered information in a narrative, as well as the narrative’s reception by its intended audience, whether it is a reading or listening audience. Armed with this theoretical frame, the present article explores a significant aspect of the narrative design in the Epic of Aqhat—the design of time. This analysis yields new insights regarding the functions of the design of time in the Epic of Aqhat and serves as a methodological frame for exploring other epic works from Ugarit.