Narration across time and media: Narrative framing in radio adaptations of H. G. Wells’s The Time Machine

Abstract

Radio drama presents unique challenges for narrative construction, particularly with regard to the incorporation of a narrator. The illusion of immediacy in radio drama often makes it difficult to identify a narrator, disrupting the traditional narrative structure found in novels. This article explores two American radio adaptations of H. G. Wells’s The Time Machine, with a particular focus on the use of narrative techniques that move beyond the possibilities of the original novel’s textual medium. This comparison emphasizes the unique narrative structures present in the radio adaptations and deepens our understanding of the distinct affordances as well as limitations of the audio medium in realizing Wells’s visionary tale. The analysis considers the concepts of narrator, focalizer and mediator and their application in radio drama. By exploring the distinctive characteristics of auditory signification and multimodal strategies utilized in audio drama, a deeper comprehension of narrative theory can be achieved.