Diese Hausarbeit beschäftigt sich mit Geraldine McCaughreans Roman "Not the End of the World", der zwar zweifellos auf der biblischen "Arche Noah" Geschichte in Genesis 6-9 basiert, jedoch an vielen Stellen anders ist. Diese Unterschiede werden herausgestellt und es wird hinterfragt, ob McCaughreans Werk als Erklärung oder Herausforderung von Genesis 6-9 angesehen werden kann. Diese Arbeit bietet trotz ihres speziellen Themas interessante Ansätze für Literaturwissenschaftler, Theologen sowie Anglisten und ist mit Ansätzen für die weitere Forschung versehen.
Table of Contents
Introduction
I. Explanation of the Phenomenon ‘Intertextuality’
II. Analysis of Not the End of the World and Genesis 6-9 with Regard to Intertextual Links, Expansions and Differences
III. Interpretation: Not the End of the World as an Explanation of the ‘Original’!?
Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This term paper examines the intertextual relationship between Geraldine McCaughrean’s novel Not the End of the World and the biblical account of Noah’s Ark in Genesis 6-9. The central research objective is to analyze whether the modern fictional text serves as an expansion and explanation of the biblical hypotext, or if it functions as a counter-text that challenges the original narrative’s principles.
- Theoretical framework of intertextuality based on Julia Kristeva, Roland Barthes, and Gérard Genette.
- Comparative analysis of narrative expansions, including the portrayal of neighbors and animal selection.
- The role of limited perspective and character internal struggles in fictionalizing the biblical story.
- The function of questioning divine motives and the moral correctness of Noah's mission.
- Examination of the novel as both an explanation and a challenge to the biblical original.
Excerpt from the Book
II. Analysis of Not the End of the World and Genesis 6-9 with Regard to Intertextual Links, Expansions and Differences
As determined in the introduction, the plots of Genesis 6-9 and NtEotW are similar, but the conversation between God and Noah is omitted and only referred to in the novel because it includes several quotations of Noah citing God, for example: “The end of all flesh is come, for the earth is filled with violence and behold I will destroy them”28. According to Genette’s definition of intertextuality as “the actual presence of one text within another”29, such gaps are also a form of this phenomenon because during the perusal of McCaughrean’s novel the reader is reminded of Genesis 6-9. With the help of this background knowledge, he is able to fill the gaps in the novel’s plot. With his explanation of hypertextuality Genette establishes an important basis for the following analysis of both texts. In his terms, the biblical original can be considered the hypotext or inter-text which provides signification for the hypertext NtEotW. Therefore, it is possible to analyse several passages of the novel regarding their potential to expand the biblical original in the following part.
In Genesis 6 God decides to destroy all human beings and animals since the earth is corrupt and “filled with violence”30. He will bring “a flood of waters upon the earth”31 in order to "destroy all flesh”32. Since Noah is the only one who finds grace in his eyes33 and shall survive, God instructs him to build an ark34. While the neighbours are obviously not a topic in the biblical original, their reactions are described by Timna, Bashemath and Japheth in NtEotW which is therefore an expansion of Genesis 6 at this point. Timna and Bashemath describe their neighbours as curious35 because they had many questions (2) and wanted to look into the ark (3). Furthermore, they were also “envious” (13), stole Noah’s tools (3) and drew chalk pictures on the ark’s hull (3). Japheth describes their behaviour when he and his brothers loaded the animals. They wanted to frighten some of the animals away by throwing stones at them (29), and used Noah’s tools to help Ham and Shem killing the animals (30). When the unclean animals came, the neighbours spit, cursed and called Noah’s family names (31).
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter introduces the thesis that McCaughrean’s novel expands upon the biblical story of Noah and outlines the theoretical approach using terms like hypotext, hypertext, and intertextuality.
I. Explanation of the Phenomenon ‘Intertextuality’: This section provides a theoretical foundation by examining the definitions of intertextuality and related concepts as described by theorists such as Kristeva, Barthes, and specifically Genette.
II. Analysis of Not the End of the World and Genesis 6-9 with Regard to Intertextual Links, Expansions and Differences: This chapter performs a comparative analysis, highlighting how the novel fills narrative gaps in the Bible and explores the reactions of neighbors and the internal emotional struggles of Noah’s family.
III. Interpretation: Not the End of the World as an Explanation of the ‘Original’!?: This part interprets the previous findings, discussing how the novel’s expansions serve to both explain the biblical text and challenge its fundamental principles through a multi-perspective narrative.
Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes that while the novel relies on the biblical original for context, it acts as a complex hypertext that provides new, critical perspectives on the traditional story.
Keywords
Intertextuality, Hypertextuality, Hypotext, Genesis 6-9, Not the End of the World, Geraldine McCaughrean, Noah's Ark, Biblical narrative, Narrative expansion, Gérard Genette, Literary theory, Counter-text, Adaptation, Character perspective, Moral ambiguity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper explores the intertextual relationship between the biblical Genesis 6-9 narrative and Geraldine McCaughrean’s novel "Not the End of the World," focusing on how the novel expands and critiques the original text.
Which theoretical framework is applied?
The author primarily uses Gérard Genette’s theory of transtextuality, including concepts such as hypertextuality, hypotext, and intertextuality.
What is the main objective of the analysis?
The goal is to determine if the novel serves as a simple explanation of the biblical story or if it functions as a "counter-text" that challenges the moral and theological principles of the original.
How is the comparison between the two texts conducted?
The paper compares specific plot points—such as the role of the neighbors, the selection of animals, and the internal life of Noah's family—to show how the novel fills gaps present in the Bible.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
It covers the definition of intertextuality, a comparative analysis of specific narrative scenes, and an interpretation of how these expansions influence the reader's understanding of the biblical source.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Intertextuality, Hypertextuality, Hypotext, Biblical narrative, and Narrative expansion.
How does the novel portray the family members of Noah?
Unlike the Bible, where their individual thoughts are absent, the novel provides depth to characters like Timna and Ama, who express doubt, pity, and moral conflict regarding the destruction of the world.
Does the novel challenge the concept of the global flood?
Yes, the final chapter of the novel offers a rational explanation for the flood, suggesting it was localized due to geological events rather than a global supernatural occurrence.
What is the significance of the "neighbors" in the novel?
The neighbors provide a perspective on the flood that is entirely omitted from the Bible, highlighting the human tragedy and the cruelty of Noah's family in their exclusion of others.
What conclusion does the author reach?
The author concludes that "Not the End of the World" functions as both an expansion that makes the biblical story more comprehensive and a challenge that questions the morality of the traditional narrative.
- Quote paper
- Isabel Mund (Author), 2012, Not the End of the World and Genesis 6-9: Expansions, Differences and New Perspectives, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/232706
