Includes bibliographical references and index.

Acknowledgements -- Abbreviations -- Introduction -- 1 Versions and Historical Background -- 2 Literary Characteristics -- 3 Narrative Structure -- 4 The Narrator -- 5 Characters -- 6 Space -- 7 Time -- How to use the Commentary -- Commentary -- Book 1 of Basileios Digenis Akritis, the Frontiersman of Double Descent -- Book 2: The Birth of the Frontiersman -- Book 3: The Return from Syria with his Mother -- Book 4 -- Book 5 -- Book 6 -- Book 7 -- Book 8: His Death -- Glossary of Narratological Terms and Literary Devices -- Bibliography -- Index of Themes and Motifs.

This volume offers a narratological commentary on Digenis Akritis , a Byzantine heroic poem that blends epic and romance. How does the narrator shape the story? What roles do characters, space, and time play in creating meaning? In a detailed introduction followed by a linear commentary, Markéta Kulhánková answers these questions through a close reading of the poem’s structure and techniques. She also examines how Digenis Akritis engages with earlier traditions through imitation and transtextuality, while presenting a unique frontier hero. Offering clear, accessible tools for understanding Byzantine narrative, the book is an essential resource for students and scholars alike. It invites readers to view Digenis Akritis as both a product of its time and a timeless tale.

English

Description based on print version record.