An analysis of motifs in Sten Nadolny's novels

This study presents an analysis of motifs in all the novels written by German author Sten Nadolny during his writing career, including Netzkarte (1981), Die Entdeckung der Langsamkeit (1983), Selim oder die Gabe der Rede (1990), Ein Gott der Frechheit (1994), Er oder Ich (1999), Ullsteinroman (2003), Weitlings Sommerfrische (2012) and Das Glück des Zauberers (2017). Motifs are analyzed under the headings of central motifs, subordinate motifs, and complementary motifs in line with their effect on the plot. In addition, in some novels, since the focus is not only on a single motif but also on two motifs that are interconnected and interact with each other and have central importance, it is also handled as a motif complex under the title of the central motif. In theoretical information about the definitions and functions of motifs, the reference books of Elisabeth Frenzel as well as Horst S. Daemmrich and Ingrid G. Daemmrich were mainly used. In the context of textual analysis, The positivist analysis method, which questions the author-work relationship and examines the literary work by adhering to and in connection with the author's life story, and text-based analysis methods based on the idea that the smallest narrative unit is the motif were used together in the text analysis process. This study aims to evaluate how the motifs used in the novels mentioned above are handled, and what their functions are in the novels with a holistic approach and comparatively with each other and with concrete examples.