Re: Meaning of "discursively"

On 2021-08-19, Steve Hayes wrote:

> I've been reading a book called "Rhetoric of the Unreal" by
> Christine-Brooke-Rose, which is about literary criticism of genres
> called "fantastial". 

Is that a typo for "fantastical"?

>
> In it she says, of the Canadian critic Northrop Frye:
>
> "He presents five modes, one after the other, selecting categories for
> each, discursively and of course very persuasively."
>
> For me the "of course" strikes a jarring note. 
>
> If something is discursive (rambling, wandering around in an
> unsystematic manner and never getting to the point) it is hard to see
> it as being persuasive at all, never mind "of course".
>
> Does "discursively" have a special meaning in litcrit speak tha is
> other than the norrmal everyday meaning of the word, and if so, what
> is it? Can anyone explain? 
>
> A DuckDuckGo search doesn't help. 
>
>

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