The Narrative Structure of the Parallel Format Novel based on the Configurations and Changes of Shared Vocabulary

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to investigate the structure of the parallel format novel in terms of vocabulary configurations and changes as a story progresses. We target Haruki MURAKAMI's "1Q84" conducting a factor analysis and a rate-of-change analysis to measure lexical frequencies for the chapters associated respectively with the two protagonists of Aomame and Tengo. The factor analysis indicates that features from BOOK2 appear within the parallel strand of BOOK3, which suggests that BOOK3 was written in order to complete the unfulfilled story of the protagonists' reunion. The rate-of-change analysis indicates that the two characters appear symmetrically as a story progresses. The study demonstrates how the conducted analyses, in comparison to literary criticism, are beneficial for narrative comprehension.