NARRATIVE METALEPSIS BY PONSON DU TERRAIL («THE TRUTH ABOUT ROCAMBOLE»)

Abstract

This article covers the parenthesis, being an example of narrative metalepsis, which describes the adventures of Rocambole (1857-1870) entitled «The Truth about Rocambole» (1866-1867) and inserted into the extensive novel series by Pierre Alexis de Ponson du Terrail. It represents a sample of autodiegetical narrative without any boundaries between fictional characters and real persons, which is unique in the oeuvre of the notable representative of French popular literature. The genesis of the novel series as a whole as well as the problem of literary plagiarism are revealed in a buffoon-carnivalesque form.