Abstract:

 sequence is formed when the actant' s intention is actualized. Based on the roles the actors play in the narration, the sequences can be divided into major intention sequence and secondary intention sequence. Embedding refers to the insertion of the intention sequence of secondary roles into the intention sequence of major roles. Embedding occurs when either the major intention sequence or the narrator' s intention is absent or when both are both absent. As the actant of the embedded sequence might be the helper or the opponent of the actant of major sequence, the intention of the former either accords with or differs from that of the latter. Hence, the direction of the narrative is unpredictable. Embedding employed in ancient Chinese narratives has its own national features, which are conditioned by the imagistic mode of thinking in ancient China.

Key words: Embedding, sequence, intention, the imagistic way of thinking