Becoming a Nazi: A model for narrative networks

This article illustrates a strategy for representing and analyzing narrativ es as networks. The strategy that we use considers narrative sequences as n etworks. Elements are treated as nodes which are connected by narrative cla uses, represented by arcs. By representing complex event sequences as netwo rks, inducing 'narrative networks,' it is possible to observe and measure n ew structural features of narratives. The narratives we focus on are autobi ographical accounts of becoming, and being, a Nazi. The substantive idea th at we develop in this article is that the observable narrative structure of life stories can provide insight into the process of identity formation. W e illustrate our approach to narrative networks by analyzing a single story that, in conjunction with the analysis of other stories, yields a set of i nsights into becoming and being. (c) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V . All rights reserved.