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
- 2.1 How is authenticity achieved?
- 3. Hodd as a work of Historiographic Metafiction
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper analyzes Adam Thorpe's Hodd, a historical novel presented as a translation of a lost Middle English manuscript, reimagining Robin Hood. The objective is to examine the techniques used to create authenticity and to determine if the novel employs historiographic metafiction.
- The construction of authenticity in historical fiction
- The blurring of fact and fiction in Hodd
- The use of framing devices and narrative tricks
- Historiographic metafiction as a literary genre
- The representation of medieval life and beliefs
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the central premise of the paper: the complex relationship between history and fiction, particularly in historical novels. It challenges the traditional binary opposition between these two genres, highlighting examples of historical novels that bridge the gap between fact and invention. The chapter introduces Adam Thorpe's Hodd as the primary text of analysis, emphasizing its unique presentation as a translated medieval manuscript and its reinterpretation of the Robin Hood legend. The introduction outlines the paper's structure, promising to investigate the techniques used to create authenticity in Hodd and to explore its potential classification as historiographic metafiction.
2. The fact/fiction dichotomy in Hodd: This chapter delves into the central question of how authenticity is constructed within Hodd. It begins by examining the novel's framing narrative – the presentation as a translated Latin manuscript – and analyzes its function in establishing a sense of verisimilitude. The chapter explores the use of footnotes, attributing them to the fictitious translator, further enhancing the illusion of authenticity. The analysis considers the interplay between intertextuality, referencing both fictional and non-fictional texts, and the author's manipulation of historical details. Specific examples from the text, like the description of the Nottingham marketplace, are used to illustrate how the author creates a believable medieval world, engaging with the reader's expectations of historical accuracy. The chapter lays the groundwork for a deeper investigation into the complexities of fact and fiction in the novel.
3. Hodd as a work of Historiographic Metafiction: This chapter analyzes whether Hodd fits within the framework of historiographic metafiction, a postmodern literary genre that self-consciously engages with the representation of history in fiction. It builds upon the previous chapter's discussion of authenticity by examining how the novel's narrative techniques, such as its framing devices and the blurring of fact and fiction, contribute to its metafictional qualities. The chapter explores the novel's self-reflexive nature and how it comments on its own status as a constructed representation of the past. This chapter would likely engage with Linda Hutcheon's theoretical framework on historiographic metafiction to provide a critical lens for the analysis of Thorpe's work. The discussion would likely incorporate textual evidence from Hodd to support the argument of its metafictional character.
Keywords
Historical fiction, historiographic metafiction, authenticity, fact/fiction dichotomy, Adam Thorpe, Hodd, Robin Hood, framing narrative, narrative tricks, medieval literature, intertextuality.
Adam Thorpe's *Hodd*: A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Guide
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes Adam Thorpe's historical novel, *Hodd*, a reimagining of the Robin Hood legend presented as a translation of a lost Middle English manuscript. The central focus is on examining the techniques used to create authenticity within the novel and determining whether it can be classified as historiographic metafiction.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include the construction of authenticity in historical fiction, the blurring of fact and fiction in *Hodd*, the use of framing devices and narrative tricks, historiographic metafiction as a literary genre, and the representation of medieval life and beliefs.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured into three main chapters: An introduction establishing the paper's premise and outlining its structure; a chapter dedicated to analyzing how authenticity is constructed in *Hodd*, focusing on framing devices and narrative techniques; and a final chapter exploring whether *Hodd* can be classified as historiographic metafiction, drawing on relevant theoretical frameworks.
How does the paper analyze the construction of authenticity in *Hodd*?
The paper examines the novel's framing narrative (its presentation as a translated manuscript), the use of footnotes, the interplay between intertextuality (referencing both fictional and non-fictional texts), and the author's manipulation of historical details to create a sense of verisimilitude and explore the complex relationship between fact and fiction.
What is historiographic metafiction, and how does the paper apply this concept to *Hodd*?
Historiographic metafiction is a postmodern literary genre that self-consciously engages with the representation of history in fiction. The paper analyzes whether *Hodd*'s narrative techniques, such as its framing devices and the blurring of fact and fiction, align with the characteristics of this genre, considering its self-reflexive nature and commentary on its own status as a constructed representation of the past. The analysis likely incorporates relevant theoretical frameworks, such as those of Linda Hutcheon.
What specific techniques are analyzed in the paper to understand the novel's construction of authenticity?
The paper analyzes various techniques including the framing narrative (presentation as a translated manuscript), the use of footnotes, the setting, the depiction of alterity, the use of narrative tricks, and the interplay of fictional and non-fictional elements within the text.
What are the key keywords associated with this paper?
Key keywords include: Historical fiction, historiographic metafiction, authenticity, fact/fiction dichotomy, Adam Thorpe, *Hodd*, Robin Hood, framing narrative, narrative tricks, medieval literature, and intertextuality.
What is the overall conclusion suggested by the paper's structure and themes?
The paper aims to provide a thorough analysis of *Hodd*, exploring how it constructs a sense of authenticity while simultaneously engaging with metafictional elements. The conclusion will likely offer a reasoned argument regarding its classification within the genre of historiographic metafiction, supported by textual evidence and relevant theoretical frameworks.
- Arbeit zitieren
- 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
