Elements of Parody in David Lodge's "Nice Work"

Seminar Paper , 1995 , 14 Pages , Grade: 1,0

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature

When thinking about David Lodge and parody, Nice Work might not be the first novel that springs to mind. This is because the generally accepted conception of parody is that of an imitation of a model text, be it a particular piece of writing, the style of an author or the literary modes of a particular period, with the underlying intention of mocking and ironizing the target text. According to this, the natural association would be Lodge's The British Museum is Falling Down, with a slight deviation as far as the author's intentions are concerned. The concept of ridicule, which can be traced in most of the parodies in the history of this genre since Aristophanes, is not an inherent feature of parody. The mockery does not always go at the expense of the text parodied, as we can see in the case of The British Museum is Falling Down, which is rather a homage to the background texts. It is the issue of the "ethos of parody", which can be ironic, ridiculing, didactic or reverential. This wide "pragmatic range of parody" results from the ambivalent meaning of the Greek word 'para', which means both 'opposite' and 'beside'. Linda Hutcheon suggests that "it is this second, neglected meaning of the prefix that broadens the pragmatic scope of parody in a way most helpful to discussions of modern art forms (…). With this in mind, I shall approach Nice Work along the lines of Daniel Ammann's definition of parody as an "activation or flirtation with an intertext (...) sustained over longer stretches(...)" as well as of Linda Hutcheon's statement that "parody(...) is a repetition with difference." Defined thus broadly, it meets my conception of Nice Work as a non-standard parody. By this I mean that it is not a homogeneous rewriting of an original (with a "difference" , of course), as Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey is a parody of the Gothic novel, neither is it a consistent mosaic of parodies mimicking the originals according to one principle as The British Museum is Falling Down does, and on that account it becomes a parody homogeneous on a higher level.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction: Defining Parody
• Parodic Strategies in Nice Work
• Foregrounding of the Victorian Novel
  • Exposing Narrative Conventions
  • Discussing the Victorian Novel
• The Ambiguous Heroine
• Poststructuralism in Nice Work
• Nice Work as a Romance
• A Balanced Pastiche
• Parody as a "philosophic" Approach

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This text analyzes the novel *Nice Work* by David Lodge, exploring its use of parody and intertextuality. It examines how Lodge parodies various literary conventions, including Victorian industrial novels, postmodernist theory, and contemporary romance.

• The use of parody as a literary device in *Nice Work*
• The role of intertextuality in shaping the novel's meaning
• The parody of Victorian industrial novels and their conventions
• The juxtaposition of postmodernist theory and traditional narrative forms
• The exploration of gender roles and feminist themes

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Chapter 1: Introduction: Defining Parody: This chapter introduces the concept of parody and explores its various forms, highlighting the ambivalent meaning of the term and its application in modern art forms. The chapter also establishes the framework for analyzing *Nice Work* as a non-standard parody, highlighting its multifaceted nature.
• Chapter 2: Parodic Strategies in Nice Work: This chapter outlines the specific strategies employed by Lodge to create a parodic effect in *Nice Work*. It explores how Lodge uses intertextuality, establishing parallels between the novel's content and other texts, and incorporating subtle hints on different levels of the text.
• Chapter 3: Foregrounding of the Victorian Novel: This chapter delves into the novel's engagement with the Victorian industrial novel. It examines how Lodge exposes the narrative conventions of this genre, highlighting the use of dialogue, authorial comments, and the shifting narrative voice.
• Chapter 4: The Ambiguous Heroine: This chapter focuses on the character of Robyn Penrose and analyzes her ambiguous role in the novel. It explores how Lodge uses the conventions of the Victorian novel to present a complex and challenging female character.
• Chapter 5: Poststructuralism in Nice Work: This chapter examines the novel's engagement with postmodernist theory. It explores how Lodge parodies the concepts of deconstruction and feminism, presenting them through the actions and interactions of the characters.
• Chapter 6: Nice Work as a Romance: This chapter analyzes the novel's portrayal of romance and its relationship to the other parodic elements. It explores how Lodge subverts the conventions of the contemporary romance genre, creating a unique and ironic love story.
• Chapter 7: A Balanced Pastiche: This chapter analyzes the novel's overall structure and its use of pastiche, combining various literary influences and styles to create a complex and engaging work. It explores how Lodge balances these elements to achieve a unified and coherent narrative.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This text delves into the complex and multifaceted world of parody in David Lodge's *Nice Work*. It explores key concepts such as intertextuality, Victorian industrial novels, postmodernist theory, feminist themes, and the subversion of literary conventions. The text examines how Lodge uses these elements to create a witty and engaging narrative that challenges traditional notions of literature and reality.

• College: Technical University of Berlin
• Course: PS David Lodge
• Grade: 1,0
• Author: Barbora Sramkova (Author)
• Publication Year: 1995
• Pages: 14
• Catalog Number: V34139
• ISBN (eBook): 9783638344463
• ISBN (Book): 9783656757900
• Language: English
• Tags: Elements, Parody, David, Lodge, Nice, Work, David, Lodge, Campus novel, Linda Hutcheon