Abstract

Toni Morrison’s masterpiece, Beloved, is profuse in postmodern narrative techniques, one of which is fragmentation. In the circle of past and present, it discloses the physical, mental and spiritual devastation of African Americans wrought by slavery. For African Americans, even for the whole nation, it might be a shock if this long and dark legacy of slavery were retold without interruptions. Therefore, the fragmented narrative helps to alleviate the psychological impact on readers when they read Beloved because the author tears the story into fragments, puts them into various sections, and presents them as a whole to the readers through the characters’ re-memories.

Key words: fragmented narrative; Beloved; psychological impact; readers

Contents

Abstract

摘  要

1. Introduction-1

1.1 Definition of Fragmented Narrative-1

1.2 Functions of Fragmented Narrative-1

1.3 Literature Review-1

1.4 Strategy of Development of Argument-2

2. The Fragments of Time Management in Beloved-3

3. The Fragments of the Characters in Beloved-4

3.1 The Fragments of Beloved-4

3.2 The Fragments of Sethe-5

4. The Fragments of the Experiences in Beloved-6

4.1 Fragments about Sethe-6

4.1.1 Fragments about Sethe’s Infanticide-7

4.1.2 Fragments about the Stealing Milk-7

4.2 Fragments about Paul D-8

5. Conclusion-9

Works Cited-11