We explain what a chapter is and the differences with an episode. Also, what is an ecclesiastical chapter.
What is a chapter?
The word chapter is an inheritance from Latin in our language, coming from the word capitulumwhich translated “header” (since it comes from capita“head”). However, today we understand something very different by it, which is related rather to the parts of a whole, that is, to the divisions that are made in a work, an organization or a system. In some cases, it can be synonymous with episode.
However, The uses of this word have varied greatly over timeand it is possible that we get it with very specific meanings in historical documents.
For example, during the colonization of America by the Spanish Empire, the encomienda system established by the Spanish crown was called “capitulations”, through which it granted its emissaries in the New World all the royal authority to conquer, populate and organize administratively at will, as long as the lands were added to the domains of the Empire.
In any case, below we will see three of the most common meanings of the word chapter today.
See also: Index
Chapter or episode
Long books are divided into partsespecially works of fiction, such as novels. Each of these sections is a chapter (or an episode, when it comes to television series). Each chapter is characterized by presenting:
- Structural autonomy from the rest, that is, it has a beginning and an end, separated from the rest.
- Narrative continuitythat is, it tells things that happen to the same characters or that are a continuation of previous chapters, etc.
The arrangement in chapters makes it easier to read particularly long works, but it also allows for the introduction of intrigue, tension and different narrative strategies, such as the cliffhanger ending (cliffhanger) that defers the reader to the desired answers until a next chapter.
Division into chapters is a modern feature in writingsince in ancient times papyrus or parchment rolls were usually used, the length of which was not much larger than what we understand today as a chapter. That is the reason why many ancient works are divided into “books” (book 1, book 2…) instead of chapters themselves.
ecclesiastical chapter
In the organization of the Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran churches, chapters are used to refer to certain religious collegiate bodies, endowed with their own jurisdictionin a very similar way to town halls or assemblies. In them, the respective clerics, considered “canons” due to their authority, meet and decisions are made or campaigns are carried out.
This term first appeared after the adoption of the Rule of Saint Augustine, an organization of the ecclesiastical community proposed in the 4th century by Augustine of Hippo (354-430). The canons met in these assemblies and began by reading a chapter from the text of Saint Augustine itself, and from there these meetings ended up being called “chapters.”
Subsequently, two types of chapters were differentiated:
- Mats Chaptersin which representatives of provinces or communities different from the Franciscan family met.
- Failure chapterswhen they had a corrective or punitive purpose within the religious community, which is why the saying “call a chapter” originated to refer to “calling the attention of a subordinate.”
Chapter in botany
In the field of biology, and specifically botany, a part of the plant body is known as a chapter, which consists of a racemose receptacle, typical of certain families of flowering plants (including discoids or asteraceae, such as sunflowers). , dahlias, gerberas, etc.), on which sessile flowers or flowers without a peduncle normally appear.
That is to say, It is a structure that serves as a platform for the flowers of some plant speciesand its name comes precisely from the original etymological meaning, since its shape refers to a small flowery head.
Continue with: Narrative
References
- “Chapter” in the Language Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy.
- “Chapter (book)” on Wikipedia.
- “Chapter (religion)” in Wikipedia.
- “Chapter (botany)” in Wikipedia.
- “Small explanation of the word Chapter” in the Online Spanish Etymological Dictionary.
