THE FEEDBACK LOOP AS A NARRATIVE TECHNIQUE IN ENGLISH BIBLICAL DISCOURSE: AN ECOPOETIC PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Purpose of the research. This research paper focuses on the models of creating a feedback loop as a narrative techniqueimplemented in the following biblical narrations: the story of king David in 2 Samuel, king Manasseh in 2 Chronicles, prophet Jonah in Jonah from the Old Testament. The paper aims at identifying narrative mechanisms and linguistic means of creating a feedback loopin English biblical discourse.

Methods. The methodology of the feedback loop reconstruction integrates: narrative analysis and contextual-interpretive analysisto show axiological meanings of the ecologically charged biblical narrations; elements of syntactic analysis in order to determine causeand effect relations between events and actions, or axiological changes in the participants’ behavior; structural analysis and semanticanalysis – to distinguish the models of creating a feedback loop according to the criterion of their complexity.

Results. The feedback loop as a narrative technique in English biblical discourse reflects the didactic stages of teaching man by Godand man’s responsibility for his environment. Explicitly marked causal relations outlining ecological imbalance in ecologically chargedbiblical narrations are manifested by means of gradation, syntactic parallelism, polysyndeton, and repetition. The narrative techniqueof creating a feedback loop in English biblical discourse is represented by three models. With regard to the number of the participantsinvolved in the information transmission, three models of feedback loop can be singled out: the model of a simple feedback loop,the model of extended feedback loop (there is an additional turn), and the model of complex feedback loop (there is a mediator).

Conclusions. This narrative technique entails the modification of the whole model of relations (presented in the stories of king Davidin 2 Samuel, king Manasseh in 2 Chronicles, and prophet Jonah in Jonah from the Old Testament), as it depends on the participants’values and behavior alterations, as well as spiritual changes in worldview and lifestyle of a man or the whole society.