Parallel lines run in the same direction without ever touching. You might think of parallel episodes in a text as running along the same lines without necessarily touching. They're episodes of the play that seem designed to comment on each other, contrast with each other, or in some way to communicate.
For a good example, have a look at Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar". Act III, Scene III has Cinna the poet murdered on the streets by thugs simply because of his name. Act III, IV has Marc Anthony and Octavius marking names on a list for murder. The scenes are next to each other (though parallel episodes don't have to be), but thematically there is clearly a comparison to be made.
One quick proviso: "parallel episodes" might simply mean two parts of a text that - although written one after the other, or at different points in a text - are supposed chronologically to happen at the same time. This is a less usual use of the term, though.
No comments:
Post a Comment