Abstract:
This study attempt to explore the function of the two major narrative techniques in the
novels The Young Crusader and The Letters. In this regard, the main aim of this study is
analyzing the narrative voice and focalization of the two narrative texts. Therefore, in
order to achieve the objective of this study, the researcher tries to review some related
literature concerning Ethiopian literature and narrative techniques. It also discusses
about different studies that have been done on the techniques and their applications to
different novels. These studies have recognized different appearance of narrative voice
and focalization in fictional writing. On the way of analyzing the two, the researcher
looked at some related issues like voice markers of narrator, relation between the
narrator and the story, reliability of the narrator, features of focalization, verbal
indicators of focalization and finally narrators as focalizers. Finally the researcher came
up with some findings the two novels have different appearance both in narrative voice
and in focalization and it is clear that narrative voice and focalization can come into
view as one or separately. In other words, this research shows that narrative voice and
focalization can come together as one but still they are not the same. In addition, one
narrative text can have more than one narrator as well as focalizer.
