This term paper analyses Adam Thorpe’s Hodd, a historical novel published in 2009, a supposedly Latin translation of an allegedly lost Middle English manuscript that fundamentally changes the image of Robin Hood. Adam Thorpe uses different techniques to achieve authenticity with his novel, but there are also traits neglecting the reliability of his narration.
First these techniques and their function will be analysed and then the focus will shift to Linda Hutcheon’s postmodernist genre of historiographic metafiction which redefined the use of historical material in fiction and the meaning of literature for history in the 1960s questioning whether Hodd is a novel which uses historiographic metafiction. The last part will sum up the findings and embed the topic in a broader context.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The fact/fiction dichotomy in Hodd
2.1 How is authenticity achieved?
2.1.1 Framing
2.1.2 Setting
2.1.3 Alterity
2.1.4 Narrative tricks
2.2 Indicators for fictionality
3. Hodd as a work of Historiographic Metafiction
4. Conclusion
Research Objective and Core Themes
This paper examines how Adam Thorpe’s novel Hodd utilizes specific literary techniques to construct an illusion of historical authenticity while simultaneously employing elements of historiographic metafiction to challenge the reliability of historical narratives.
- The construction of authenticity through framing devices and pseudo-editing.
- The role of setting and character thought-worlds in historical fiction.
- The application of narrative tricks, such as footnotes and erratic spelling.
- Linda Hutcheon’s concept of historiographic metafiction applied to the novel.
- The interplay between real historical material and fictionalized accounts.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1.1 Framing
A framing narrative for a historical novel can give the impression of authenticity. In How Novels Work, John Mullan states that “the framing device is…the fictional explanation of how a narrative has been discovered or recorded…the frame (or explanation surrounds the rest of the narrative” (qtd. In Hughes 22). In Hodd the framing narrative is an English translation “from a soiled Latin manuscript” (Thorpe, “Hodd”). This Latin manuscript is, then again, a translation from a lost 14th century Middle English text written by the nameless narrator in Hodd. In order to avoid writing the novel in Middle English, Adam Thorpe in the preface introduces a middleman Francis Belloes, a scholar who was a soldier during World War I and who discovered the manuscript in a burning house and translated it into English.
It is notable that the pseudo-editing process of Hodd is rather complex. Kürschner argues that historical novels (and in particular historiographic metafiction) could not do without instances of heteroreferentiality, i.e. intertextual references to fictional and non-fictional texts. (Kürschner 157). The intertextual reference to a partly non-fictional text in Hodd is for example the manuscript of the ballad Robin Hood and the Monk from 1450, whereas the reference to a fictional text is the manuscript which has been translated by Belloes Carroll states that many writers of historical fiction prefer to write some form of explanation how they have played with history (269), in this case with a fictive manuscript.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Introduces the divide between history and fiction, presenting Adam Thorpe’s Hodd as a case study for historical novels that manipulate authenticity.
2. The fact/fiction dichotomy in Hodd: Analyzes the specific techniques, such as framing, setting, and narrative tricks, used to create a sense of historical realism while maintaining fictional elements.
3. Hodd as a work of Historiographic Metafiction: Discusses how the novel fits into Linda Hutcheon's theory of historiographic metafiction by blurring the lines between historical truth and constructed reality.
4. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, emphasizing the importance of questioning media information and noting how the novel transforms the traditional Robin Hood legend into a critical commentary on historiography.
Keywords
Hodd, Adam Thorpe, Historiographic Metafiction, Authenticity, Historical Novel, Linda Hutcheon, Robin Hood, Fictionality, Framing, Narrative Techniques, Historiography, Postmodernism, Intertextuality, Deception, Manuscript
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper focuses on Adam Thorpe’s novel Hodd and how it challenges the traditional boundaries between history and fiction using postmodern techniques.
What are the central themes discussed in the text?
Central themes include the construction of historical authenticity, the unreliability of narration, the use of metadata such as footnotes in fiction, and the theory of historiographic metafiction.
What is the core research question?
The paper seeks to explore how Hodd employs narrative strategies to achieve an impression of authenticity while questioning the reliability of historical accounts.
Which theoretical framework is applied?
The analysis is largely based on Linda Hutcheon’s theory of historiographic metafiction and various scholarly perspectives on historical novels and authenticity.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
It covers specific techniques like framing, the depiction of setting, the use of "narrative tricks" (footnotes, lacunae), and the indicators of fictionality that undermine the novel's apparent realism.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Keywords include Hodd, historiographic metafiction, authenticity, narrative techniques, and historical novel.
How does the novel Hodd use footnotes to deceive the reader?
Thorpe uses 400 footnotes, attributing them to a fictional editor named Francis Belloes, which creates the academic appearance of an authentic historical source.
In what way does the novel transform the legend of Robin Hood?
The novel moves away from the romanticized image of the hero, presenting Robin Hood as a dark and ruthless villain through the subjective account of the narrator.
How does the concept of "alterity" contribute to the novel's authenticity?
By incorporating elements of medieval superstition and strange beliefs, the novel creates a "naturalistic" feel that enhances the reader's belief in the period's reality.
What conclusion does the author draw about historiography?
The author concludes that historiography itself can be unreliable, and historical texts should not be viewed as absolute, transparent records of truth.
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- Giuseppe Dennis Messina (Autor:in), 2017, The Fact/Fiction Dichotomy in Adam Thorpe's Historical Novel "Hodd", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/456244
