Roman épistolaire et ethos discursif : interprétation stylistique de "La voie de ma rue" de Sylvain Kean Zoh

Abstract

Epistolary "Novel and Discursive Ethos": Stylistic interpretation of La voie de ma rue by Sylvain Kean Zoh The aim of this article is to conduct a stylistic analysis of the discursive ethos presented in the epistolary novel "La voie de ma rue" by Ivorian writer Sylvain Kean Zoh. Specifically, it examines how the main character constructs a nuanced ethos through a letter that raises awareness about street children. This analysis focuses on the interplay between fragility and resilience within the character's discourse. Here, ethos refers to the image crafted by a speaker to be perceived and understood through their speech. This study employs stylistics as a literary approach to scrutinise and interpret the linguistic resources exploited by the writer. The central question addressed is how linguistic and enunciative-discursive elements serve to shape ethos, inviting stylistic interpretation within the framework of the epistolary novel. The article argues that discursive ethos, a concept rooted in ancient rhetoric, is richly explored and invested in La voie de ma rue. The ethos portrayed in this work is distinctive, rooted in the protagonist's challenging life experiences as a self-described wanderer. The construction of ethos is notably influenced by the specific spatio-temporal contexts in which the subject evolves. For instance, the childhood locales evoke an ethos of fragility, whereas the character’s experiences in the capital city foster an ethos of resilience. In the familiar places of his childhood, the character articulates a discourse amidst an ethos of fragility. However, upon unexpectedly finding himself in the capital, he begins to develop a narrative of resilience within his discourse. This analysis posits that the stylistic examination of ethos in the epistolary novel is facilitated by various literary devices. Among these, deixis, rhetorical questions, axiological lexis, and affective modalisation are identified as particularly significant in shaping and conveying the ethos of the protagonist's narrative. The findings revealed that the stylistic analysis of discursive ethos in Sylvain Kean Zoh's "La voie de ma rue" reveals how the protagonist, through his wandering journey, shapes the notions of ethos regarding fragility and resilience. The text explores various linguistic and enunciative techniques such as personal deixis, rhetorical questions, negations, and evaluative terms, all playing crucial roles as textual dominants. The influence of spatio-temporal context on ethos construction is notable, transforming childhood places into foundations of fragility ethos, and the capital city into a catalyst for resilience ethos. Through life's trials, the narrator-character, an early orphan, evolves from initial fragility to affirmed resilience, shaped by his urban environment. "La voie de ma rue" thus demonstrates how the epistolary novel can be effectively studied through a stylistic analysis focused on discursive ethos.