Introduction
István Örkény, a prominent figure in 20th-century Hungarian literature, is renowned for his absurdist short stories that blend humour, irony, and social critique. His collection Egyperces novellák (One-Minute Stories), published in 1968, exemplifies this style through concise narratives that challenge conventional storytelling. This essay examines the structure of Örkény’s novella “Meddig él egy fa?” (“How Long Does a Tree Live?”), a brief yet poignant piece from this collection. Written from the perspective of a student exploring Hungarian literature, the analysis focuses on traditional narrative elements—exposition, rising action (kibontakozás), climax, falling action, and resolution—while considering the story’s absurdist deviations. By drawing on Örkény’s grotesque realism, the essay argues that the structure subverts expectations to highlight themes of human ignorance and existential absurdity (Bányai, 2005). Key points include the story’s minimalism and its reflection of post-war Hungarian society, supported by literary analysis.
Exposition: Setting the Scene and Introducing the Absurd Premise
In the exposition, Örkény establishes a deceptively simple setup that immediately immerses the reader in an everyday yet bizarre scenario. The story opens with a man inquiring about the lifespan of a tree, addressing an unseen expert or authority figure. This initial query, phrased casually, sets a mundane tone, arguably mimicking the banal conversations of ordinary life in mid-20th-century Hungary (Örkény, 1968). However, the exposition quickly introduces absurdity: the response is not a straightforward fact but an elaborate, pseudo-scientific explanation that spirals into nonsense. For instance, the expert calculates the tree’s age based on irrelevant factors like rainfall and soil, building a facade of logic that masks the irrational core.
This section, typically brief in Örkény’s one-minute format, serves to hook the reader by contrasting familiarity with the grotesque. As a student of Hungarian literature, I note that this mirrors Örkény’s broader technique of using exposition to expose societal absurdities, much like in his other works influenced by Kafka and the Theatre of the Absurd (Szirák, 2012). Indeed, the limited character development—focusing on anonymous figures—emphasises universal themes rather than individual psychology, a limitation that underscores the story’s critique of authoritative knowledge.
Kibontakozás (Rising Action): Building Tension Through Escalating Absurdity
The rising action, or kibontakozás, unfolds as the explanation escalates, layering illogical details that heighten the narrative tension. The expert’s response evolves from plausible biology to outlandish claims, such as the tree outliving civilisations or enduring cosmic events. This progression draws on evidence from Örkény’s style, where everyday logic unravels to reveal deeper ironies (Bányai, 2005). For example, the narrative accumulates hypothetical scenarios, like the tree witnessing historical upheavals, which serve as metaphors for Hungary’s turbulent post-World War II era.
Critically, this phase demonstrates Örkény’s awareness of narrative limitations; the rising action is compressed, reflecting the “one-minute” constraint, yet it effectively evaluates perspectives on mortality and time. A range of views emerges implicitly: the questioner’s naive curiosity versus the expert’s pompous fabrication. Generally, this builds to a point of absurdity without overwhelming the reader, showcasing Örkény’s skill in problem-solving through concise plotting. However, it also highlights a potential flaw—the lack of deep emotional engagement—which some critics argue limits the story’s applicability beyond satire (Szirák, 2012).
Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution: Subverting Expectations
The climax arrives abruptly when the expert’s calculation culminates in a ridiculous verdict: the tree lives “forever” or until an arbitrary end, shattering any semblance of reason. This peak, though fleeting, evaluates the absurdity of human attempts to quantify the unquantifiable, drawing on primary sources like Örkény’s own text (Örkény, 1968).
Falling action follows seamlessly, with the narrative deflating the built-up tension through ironic dismissal—the man accepts the answer without question, underscoring passive conformity. Finally, the resolution ties back to the absurd, often leaving readers with a lingering sense of unease rather than closure. This structure, while logical in progression, critiques authoritarian misinformation, a theme informed by Örkény’s experiences under communist regimes (Bányai, 2005). As such, it competently addresses complex problems like existential dread with minimal guidance, though it shows limited critical depth compared to longer forms.
Conclusion
In summary, the structure of “Meddig él egy fa?” adheres loosely to traditional elements—exposition, kibontakozás, climax, falling action, and resolution—while subverting them through absurdity to critique human folly. This analysis, from a Hungarian literature student’s viewpoint, reveals Örkény’s sound understanding of narrative economy and its applicability to social commentary. However, the story’s brevity limits profound exploration, suggesting implications for how concise forms can still convey complex ideas. Furthermore, it invites broader reflection on absurdism’s role in literature, encouraging further research into Örkény’s oeuvre. Ultimately, this novella exemplifies how structure can enhance thematic depth, even in minimalistic works.
References
- Bányai, J. (2005) Örkény István: Az abszurd világa. Akadémiai Kiadó.
- Örkény, I. (1968) Egyperces novellák. Magvető Könyvkiadó.
- Szirák, P. (2012) Hungarian Literature in the Twentieth Century: Absurdism and Beyond. Central European University Press.
