11

The The Memoirs Memoirs of the Oratorof the Oratoryy

As a narrative textAs a narrative text

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Don Bosco’s writing 1Don Bosco’s writing 1

DB as a writer is moderate, essential, DB as a writer is moderate, essential, clear and effectiveclear and effective

He demonstrates a command of He demonstrates a command of narrative writingnarrative writing

He is more immediate and to the He is more immediate and to the point in recounting facts often point in recounting facts often spoken of spoken of viva voceviva voce and in talking of and in talking of dreams full of detailsdreams full of details

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Don Bosco’s writing 2Don Bosco’s writing 2

His dialogues are fluentHis dialogues are fluentAt times the dialogue highlights pastoral At times the dialogue highlights pastoral

and educational attitudes dear to himand educational attitudes dear to himAt other times he is apologetic: he shows At other times he is apologetic: he shows

things or argues with things passionatelythings or argues with things passionatelyAt other times he is intimate and spiritualAt other times he is intimate and spiritualWhile at other times he is ordinary, While at other times he is ordinary,

popularpopular

Clear ability, refined over long period, Clear ability, refined over long period, to compose, to compose,

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Don Bosco’s writing 3Don Bosco’s writing 3

In scenes where he presents a In scenes where he presents a typology of characters threaded with typology of characters threaded with caricature the writing is very effectivecaricature the writing is very effective

He puts together tiny but complete He puts together tiny but complete tales of adventuretales of adventure

Tonal variety and shades of meaningTonal variety and shades of meaningAll in function of a narrative plan with All in function of a narrative plan with

great symbolic, practical intensitygreat symbolic, practical intensity

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Structure of the text 1Structure of the text 1

Narrative order:Narrative order:

Events are not imaginedEvents are not imagined

DB needed to work on a range of DB needed to work on a range of memories, events, emotions, sensations memories, events, emotions, sensations experienced over different periodsexperienced over different periods

And he needed to order them according And he needed to order them according to a certain order: their reference to the to a certain order: their reference to the Oratory of St. Francis de SaleOratory of St. Francis de Saless

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Structure of the text 2Structure of the text 2

SurfaceSurface structure structure (chronology as organising principle)(chronology as organising principle)

SpatialSpatial structurestructure (geography as organising principle)(geography as organising principle)

DeepDeep structurestructure (inner organising principle)(inner organising principle)

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Structure of the text 3Structure of the text 3The The surfacesurface structurestructure (declared in the (declared in the

introduction) is sub-divided into introduction) is sub-divided into DecadesDecades Ten years of early childhoodTen years of early childhood 1825-18351825-1835 1835-18451835-1845 1845-18551845-1855

Chapters , within these decades, Chapters , within these decades, highlight:highlight:The character’s formational journey on the The character’s formational journey on the

one handone hand

The progressive appearance and shaping of The progressive appearance and shaping of elements which make up the Oratoryelements which make up the Oratory

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Structure of the text 4Structure of the text 4

Spatial structureSpatial structureDB attributes particular value to places DB attributes particular value to places

and settings where his oratorian and settings where his oratorian vocation developed: These are vocation developed: These are points on points on a symbolic mapa symbolic map

The variety and succession of places The variety and succession of places becomes an important organising becomes an important organising principle for the narrative: vprinciple for the narrative: values linked alues linked with spaceswith spaces

Change of place: pChange of place: pilgrimage towards the ilgrimage towards the promised land of the Oratorpromised land of the Oratoryy

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Structure of the text 5Structure of the text 5The The deep structure deep structure (beneath the (beneath the

surface) surface) Is made up of:Is made up of:

DB’s value systemsDB’s value systemsBeliefsBeliefsMental framework (mentality, culture)Mental framework (mentality, culture)

Emerges free, beyond any formal Emerges free, beyond any formal divisiondivision

Behind it all there is DB the man, Behind it all there is DB the man, with his entire inner universewith his entire inner universe

1010

Structure of the text 6Structure of the text 6

This deep element (very much alive This deep element (very much alive in the MO) gives the document in the MO) gives the document intense polysemic valueintense polysemic value and makes it and makes it most precious for usmost precious for us

The various organisational structures The various organisational structures enrich the overall scene with its enrich the overall scene with its glimpses and multi-faceted viewsglimpses and multi-faceted views, , with tones and shades of meaning with tones and shades of meaning which attrracts which attrracts a range of readersa range of readers with different interestwith different interestss

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Levels of interpretation 1Levels of interpretation 1

Ideal readers DB had in mind: Ideal readers DB had in mind: Salesians of the ’70’s of the 19Salesians of the ’70’s of the 19thth century centurywith well-defined mental featureswith well-defined mental featuresequipped with a bagful of tools for equipped with a bagful of tools for

interpretation identical to his own,interpretation identical to his own,a kind of spirituality typical for his settinga kind of spirituality typical for his settinga theological and pedagogical a theological and pedagogical

terminology with meanings different to terminology with meanings different to our ownour own

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Levels of interpretation 2Levels of interpretation 2

The interpretation of the MO and full The interpretation of the MO and full understanding of the author’s understanding of the author’s intentions requires:intentions requires:A certain preparationA certain preparationAn historical acclimatisationAn historical acclimatisationAn appropriate lexicon and An appropriate lexicon and

encyclopaediaencyclopaedia