The aim of this thesis is to focus on the most important features of the novel that reveal the uniqueness of "Mrs Dalloway" as well as a modern novel as the importance for the development of early twentieth century literature. Therefore, the first part of this thesis deals with the literary and historical context of War and Modernism in the era of Virginia Woolf illuminating the importance of her work, as well as the ambiguous reactions to her writing. In order to understand the genesis of "Mrs Dalloway", the composition and the psychological evolution of the novel will also be discussed. The second part of this thesis concentrates on different topics of the novel concerning style, narrative technique, as well as imagery and characters in order to put together the seemingly dislocated fragments into a clear and clean image of what makes Virginia Woolf’s "Mrs Dalloway" one outstanding example of modern literature.
Table of Contents
00. Introduction
01.Virginia Woolf’s Life and Works
02. Literary and Historical Context
02.1. The Era of Virginia Woolf: Bloomsbury, War and Modernism
02.2. The Importance and Contribution of Virginia Woolf’s Work
02.3. Critical Reactions and Approaches to Mrs Dalloway
02.4. The Composition and the’’psychological’’ evolution of Mrs Dalloway
03. Mrs Dalloway – The Novel
03.1. Virginia Woolf’s Style – analysis of a short passage from Mrs Dalloway
03.2. The Stream of Consciousness Technique
03.3. Narrative Control Technique
03.4. Imagery and Symbol in Mrs Dalloway
03.5. Characters in Mrs Dalloway
04.From Literary Realism to Literary Modernism in Mrs Dalloway
Objectives and Topics
This thesis examines the core aesthetic and thematic elements of Virginia Woolf's novel Mrs Dalloway, aiming to illuminate its status as a foundational text of early twentieth-century modernism and its unique handling of consciousness and social critique.
- The literary and historical context of Modernism and its impact on Woolf's writing.
- Advanced narrative techniques, specifically the stream-of-consciousness and tunnelling methods.
- The interplay between the public sphere (London society) and the private, psychological experiences of characters.
- The role of mental illness and the perception of the "self" within a rigid social structure.
- Symbolism and imagery as tools to bridge the gap between concrete reality and internal subjective experience.
Extract from the Book
Virginia Woolf’s Style – analysis of a short passage from Mrs Dalloway
‘Who can – what can –’ asked Mrs Dalloway (thinking it was outrageous to be interrupted at eleven o’clock on the morning of the day she was giving her party), hearing a step on the stairs. She heard a hand upon the door. She made to hide her dress, like a virgin protecting chastity, respecting privacy. Now the brass knob slipped. Now the door opened, and in came – for a single second she could not remember what he was called! so surprised she was to see him, so glad, so shy, so utterly taken aback to have Peter Walsh come to her unexpectedly in the morning! (She had not read his letter).
‘And how are you?’ said Peter Walsh, positively trembling; taking both her hands; kissing both her hands. She’s grown older, he thought, sitting down. I shan’t tell her anything about it, he thought, for she’s grown older. She’s looking at me, he thought, a sudden embarrassment coming over him, though he had kissed her hands. Putting his hand into his pocket, he took out a large pocket-knife and half opened the blade.
Exactly the same, thought Clarissa; the same queer look; the same check suit; a little out of the straight his face is, a little thinner, dryer, perhaps, but he looks awfully well, and just the same. ‘How heavenly it is to see you again!’ she exclaimed. He had his knife out. That’s so like him, she thought.
Summary of Chapters
00. Introduction: Outlines the novel's historical significance and the thesis objective to analyze how Woolf combines realistic and modern techniques.
01.Virginia Woolf’s Life and Works: Details the biographical influences on Woolf’s literary development, including her childhood, family history, and mental health struggles.
02. Literary and Historical Context: Explores the societal background of the Bloomsbury Group, the impact of the Great War, and critical reactions to the novel.
03. Mrs Dalloway – The Novel: Investigates the stylistic features of the novel, focusing on stream-of-consciousness, narrative control, and key symbols.
04.From Literary Realism to Literary Modernism in Mrs Dalloway: Discusses the transition from traditional narrative forms to modernism, emphasizing the shift in temporal representation.
Keywords
Mrs Dalloway, Virginia Woolf, Modernism, Stream of Consciousness, Tunnelling Technique, Bloomsbury Group, Narrative Control, Subjectivity, Mental Illness, Shell Shock, Literary Realism, Social Critique, Clarissa Dalloway, Septimus Smith, Identity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic work?
The work provides a comprehensive analysis of Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway, focusing on how she integrates personal psychological experiences with the social reality of post-war London.
What are the central thematic fields explored?
The thesis covers themes such as the intersection of public and private life, the development of modern female identity, the impact of the Great War on social order, and the representation of mental health.
What is the core research objective?
The objective is to explain the uniqueness of Mrs Dalloway as a modern novel by analyzing its structural innovations and its ability to unify fragmented experiences.
Which scientific methods are employed in this analysis?
The author uses a literary-analytical approach, examining narrative techniques like stream-of-consciousness, symbolic imagery, and biographical context to interpret the text.
What aspects of the novel are covered in the main section?
The main section covers stylistic analysis, character development (specifically Clarissa Dalloway and Septimus Smith), the influence of psychological theories like those of Freud, and the movement from traditional realism to modernism.
Which keywords best characterize this study?
Key terms include Modernism, Stream of Consciousness, Subjectivity, Shell Shock, and Narrative Control.
How does the author relate Septimus Smith to Virginia Woolf’s life?
The author argues that Septimus Smith serves as a vessel for Woolf to explore her own encounters with mental illness, particularly the oppressive medical attitudes of the era.
What is the significance of the "tunnelling" technique discussed in the work?
The tunnelling technique is defined as Woolf's method of allowing present moments of detail to open up complex views into a character's past, bridging temporal gaps.
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- Cristian Georgescu (Autor:in), 2019, Virginia Woolf and The Universe of Her Novel "Mrs Dalloway", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1037257
