Chapter Two. ‘Adventure’ Chronotope And Comic Carnival In Mark 1–8

The first section of Mark's Gospel bears close similarities to the chronotope of adventure, with its stress on immediacy and chance-encounters, and the comparative lack of precision concerning geographical considerations. It is for this reason that the adventure chronotope will be considered as the first structuring axis for discussion of this section of Mark. The theme of secrecy, recognition and non-recognition is another important aspect of this chronotope, and draws immediate comparison with the recognition/non-recognition tensions that exist within Mark (for example in the discipleship narrative), and as part of the secrecy motif that permeates the first half of the Gospel. Central to the adventures in this chronotope is the concept of trials faced by the hero and heroine, usually in terms of their chastity and faithfulness. However, other characteristics are also tested such as the character's nobility, strength, courage and fearlessness.Keywords: adventure chronotope; chastity; courage; faithfulness; fearlessness; Mark; nobility