Literary Travel Writing - Summary of Theory and Principles

Literary Travel Writing

Structure

 Rhythmical paragraphs, where these are linear and regard to each individual

experience in a particular moment, being chronologically written in the first-

person, commonly narrated in the form of a dialogue - before the author

introducing the called “bridge paragraph” (Hay 1990), after having reflected

upon the background story of the travel.



o “The key critical theoretical issues around travel writing do not involve its

tired structures or tendency to repeat itself; they focus instead on its

relationship with its subject matter” (Hannigan 2013).



o “A feature is structured as a first-person narrative, with the impressions and

experiences of the writer paramount. One of those impressions or

experiences – a dramatic or particularly colourful one – will be used for the

intro and will often be followed by a ‘flashback’ to introduce the

destination and the background of the journey described” (Hannigan 2013).



o “The feature will end with a neat narrative close – in most cases the

writer’s own departure” (Hannigan 2013).




Style




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