Light and color tuning of »Sylvie« by Nerval

Abstract

In my paper I focus on motifs of colours and lights in a short romantic prose Sylvie by Gerard de Nerval. Using the tool of dispersion analysis I explain the ways in which these motifs influence the compositional principles of the prose. In this respect, I pay special attention to two of these principles which could be considered crucial elements for the composition of the prose: contrast and parallelism. From a functional perspective, as I demonstrate further, both principles complement each other in various segments of the text in many sophisticated ways. As a result, it should be stipulated that these compositional principles are interconnected with the set of various motifs and together with them contribute to the global dream-like atmosphere of the novel.