"A WILD SHEEP CHASE, BY HARUKI MURAKAMI": AN ANALYSIS OF THE NOVEL FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF FANTASTIC LITERATURE

Abstract

This work aims to classify the novel "A Wild Sheep Chase" by Haruki Murakami as a work of the fantastic genre, having as main theoretical reference Tzvetan Todorov, which presents requirements for the classification of the fantastic genre in his book "Introduction to Fantastic Literature" (2010). The methodology used for this research is a bibliographical one, with reflective readings of articles and books dealing with the fantastic in the work, such as Sambuichi (2006), Nishikido (2008), Humberto Eco (2001) and Nagae (2008) respectively. Subsequently, the analysis of what characteristics must be present in a work to classify it as belonging to the fantasy genre under the aegis of Todorov's precepts was performed. As results, the analyzed work presents characteristics as presence of the hesitation, both in the reader and in the personages, of the I and YOU. In addition, to be of the genre fantastic, the genre poetry or allegory should not be present in the work. Thus, one can notice the present supernatural factor and great moments of hesitation as in the meeting with the ram man, the special-eyed girl, his friend Rato, and the ram himself. The research is important for studies and research in the area of ​​Japanese literature, because the richness of the work opens up several possibilities for analysis.