The Inward Turn of Narrative

Exploring the interplay between reality and consciousness, Erich Kahler examines the evolution of narrative form from the Gilgamesh Cycle to the late eighteenth century. He identifies a trend toward increasing inwardness, highlighting how human consciousness expands by integrating the complexities of the external world into what Rilke termed "inner space." This study reveals the dynamic relationship between cultural history and the transformation of human perception over time.