Narrative in Biography: From Making Sense to Creating Biographical Relationships

The article discusses the concept of Olga Tokarczuk’s “tender narrator”, which was demonstrated in her Nobel speech, and developed a book entitled “Tender Narrator” (Tokarczuk 2020). writer’s proposed way describing narrative narrator used to examine biographical narrator, his bond with hero, truth fiction biography, process discovering finding purpose existence. idea discussed context other useful theories aimed at search for meaning: reference course life Charlotte Bühler (1933/1999) will make sense Viktor E. Frankl (1948/2018, 1982/2017, 1988/2018, 1992/2018) allowed us see common ground reflection on role specificity narrative. On one hand, Agata Bielik-Robson’s (2004) trauma present highlighted need retrospective storytelling its therapeutic, reparative nature. personalistic norm (in original by Karol Wojtyła “Love Responsibility” 1986), according only appropriate refer person is love, turned out be close model narrator”. extensive conceptualization that idea, Tokarczuk, compared concepts mentioned above, allows reconsideration important issues earlier: narrator” inspiring attempts rethink adequacy representation, objectivity vs. involvement biographer, relationship between biography literature.