Ruth and Esther: Divergent Narratives, Convergent Narratology

On the surface, the narratives of Ruth and Esther share little. A story, however, can also be analyzed by its narratology, how the story is constructed and told. Narratology focuses on questions of emplotment, the fashioning of a narrative structure or plot by connecting the various elements in a coherent manner. This involves the arrangement of the individual elements into a larger framework to create a sense of purpose within the narrative. In sum, narrative deals with plot; narratology deals with emplotment. As narrative, Ruth and Esther diverge; as narratology, however, they converge.