In this thesis, Sebilwane is the subject of a narratological investigation. The point of departure of this study is based on the fact that a narratological text consists of three levels: the history, the composition, the usage of words which are recognisable in the style of the author. The epic-poem is not the subject of a verse-technical investigation and description. The narratological model is adapted to the aim of this study. The historical level regarded in principle as the original level prior to the material's exposure to a viewpoint and it is interpreted. The four narrative elements that are investigated are: the events, the characters/actors, time and place. In Sebilwane there are main events identified by the criteria of: (a) change, (b) cause, and (c) result. The characters/actors have been described and classified according to: (a) aim, (b) supporter, (c) patron, (d)helper and patron,and (e) opponent. In as far as historical time is concerned, it has been concluded that the events occurred: (a) in the remote past, and (b) stretched it to a 24 hour period. The actors/persons find themselves in a rural area which can be comparable to Botlokwa which is lying within the borders of Lebowa. The composition of the information which is given in the historical level, gives the shape of the author's aim. Here, what is important, are the functions which are described by the elements themselves. Then the idea of the theme comes clearly in this part and it is therefore identified as the main - and sub-theme. The third level concerns the usage of words; the information now gets a personal or subjective selection. Therefore, only a short passage is to be selected for stylistic analysis. The analytic model which is effected here is Kerkhoff's. AFRIKAANS : In hierdie verhandeling word Sebilwane aan 'n narratologiese ondersoek onderwerp. Die uitgangspunt van hierdie studie is dat 'n narratologiese teks uit drie lae bestaan: die geskiedenis, die samestelling, die verwoording wat in die styl van die outeur kenbaar is. Hierdie epiese gedig word nie verstegnies ondersoek en beskryf nie. Die narratologiese model is vir die doel van hierdie studie aangepas. Die geskiedenislaag word in beginsel as die oorspronklike laag beskou voordat die gegewens vanuit 'n bepaalde gesigspunt bekyk en weergegee word. Die vier vertelelemente wat ondersoek word, is die gebeurtenisse, die karakters/akteurs, tyd en plek. In Sebilwane is die kerngebeurtenisse geïdentifiseer deur die kriteria van (a) verandering, (b) oorsaak en (c) afloop. Die karakters/akteurs is beskryf en geklassifiseer volgens (a) doelstelling, (b) begunstigde, (c) begunstiger, (d) helper en (e) teëstaander. Wat die tyd betref, speel die gebeure (a) histories in die verre verlede af, en (b) strek dit oor 'n 24 uur tydperk. Die akteurs/mense bevind hulle in 'n landelike gebied wat waarskynlik Botlokwa is wat binne Lebowa geleë is. Die samestelling van die gegewens wat in die geskiedenislaag gegee is, gee aan die doestelling van die outeur gestalte. Daarvan gaan dit hier om die funksies wat aan die elemente toegesê word. Die begrip van die tema staan in hierdie gedeelte voorop, en daar word 'n hoof - en 'n subtema geïdentifiseer. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 1993. / African Languages / unrestricted