The Narrative Strategies of Hermann Hesse’s Steppenwolf

Abstract

Hermann Hesse’s Steppenwolf manifests its narrative strategies in three aspects: narrative levels, carnivalized narrative spaces and dialogism, corresponding to the research idea from the external structure to the internal plot and characters’ dialogues. The different narrative levels based on the two dimensions of “story” and “discourse” surround each other and drive the narrative process together. The novel comes to a climax when the main character, Haller, wandered to the “tavern” and the “magic theatre”, two places with carnival atmosphere, and expressed the flow of Haller’s consciousness through the artistic technique of time-space montage. Finally, in the analysis of the Haller’s inner monologue and dialogues with the others, the path of salvation is made clear, which is to confront the reality with humor and to be firm in the inner faith.