The following thesis consists in an attempt at synthesising several problems connected with narrating historical representations by means of metaphors. It examines the functions metaphorical narratives may attend in order to (de)construct historical identities as well as the places metaphors may occupy in the order of discourses. Divided into three chapters, the dissertation deals with the ‘spectacular’ and the ‘performative’ potential of figurative speech assembled in historical narrations that are, in quite distinct fashions, presented in selected novels by Julian Barnes, Graham Swift and Kazuo Ishiguro. The methodological profile of the analysis conducted in this thesis is centralised on the deconstructionist notion of metaphor as well as certain poststructuralist conceptions of power relations. But despite the fact that most theoretical inspirations are drawn from the philosophy of Jacques Derrida and Michel Foucault there appear also other names and theoretical sources. Among these quite a substantial role can be assigned to literary criticism developed between 1950s and 1990s in Great Britain and elsewhere in Europe, feminist critique along with its various orientations, psychoanalytic writings as well as texts authored by philosophers and critics linked more to structuralist tradition and New Criticism rather than deconstruction such as Paul Ricoeur, Roland Barthes, Mikhail Bakhtin, Wolfgang Iser, Stanley Fish or Walter Benjamin. The first chapter, Metaphoricised Historiography, as its title implies, serves as a short introduction to the intricacies of post-war British history and its impact on literature. The next chapter entitled History as Spectacle deals with recontextualising and manipulating historical scenes. And the last chapter, History as Performance, addresses a certain type of historical sensitivity. It is discussed on the examples of visual arts and the situation of historical painting in the context of being objectified in endless interpretative circulation in galleries and museums. On the whole, the dissertation tries to estimate the significance of metaphors in discourses narrating historical identities.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- CHAPTER ONE Metaphoricised Historiography
- I. 1. HISTORY IN POST-WAR BRITISH NOVEL: A DIAGNOSIS
- I. 2. NARRATING TERRITORY
- I. 3. SENSE(LESS)NESS OF METAPHOR IN A HISTORICAL DISCOURSE
- CHAPTER TWO History as Spectacle
- II. 1. USURY AND ABUSE OF IDENTITY
- II. 2. (DE)SIMULATING METAPHYSICAL VIOLENCE
- II. 3. THE SPECTACLE IS OVER: METAPHORICAL (?) IMPLICATIONS FOR HISTORICAL ENDISM
- CHAPTER THREE History as Performance
- III. 1. THE CRISIS OF AUTHORITY: INTERPRETATION OR DECONSTRUCTION?
- III. 2. THE ART OF HISTORY
- III. 3. SCHIZOPHRENIC DISCOURSES
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This thesis delves into the multifaceted relationship between metaphor and historical narratives in the novels of Julian Barnes, Graham Swift, and Kazuo Ishiguro. The work aims to investigate how these authors utilize metaphor in their narratives to both construct and deconstruct historical master-narratives, particularly within the context of post-war British society.
- The redefinition of national and cultural values in post-war Britain, particularly in relation to colonialism and liberalism.
- The impact of historical events on individual identity and the struggle to define personal experiences within a larger historical framework.
- The role of metaphor in constructing and deconstructing historical narratives, exploring the ways in which metaphors both reflect and challenge dominant historical interpretations.
- The examination of history as a spectacle and as a performance, analyzing how these perspectives shape the authors' use of metaphor.
- The influence of deconstructionist theory, cultural studies, and literary criticism on the interpretation of these novels.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The first chapter, "Metaphoricised Historiography," establishes a theoretical framework for analyzing the relationship between metaphor and history. It explores the concept of identity and its relation to the shifting landscape of post-war Britain. This chapter also examines the use of metaphor in historical narratives, exploring its potential to both reinforce and challenge traditional interpretations of the past.
Chapter Two, "History as Spectacle," delves into the ways in which historical events can be experienced as a spectacle, offering a limited number of scenes and archetypes for individuals to identify with. The chapter investigates how protagonists in the selected novels grapple with the limitations of this spectacle, questioning the potential for individual experiences to be singular and unprecedented. The chapter also explores the function of metaphor in navigating this tension between personal narratives and the dominant historical discourse.
Chapter Three, "History as Performance," shifts the focus to the active role individuals play in shaping their own interpretations of history. The chapter examines how protagonists in the selected novels engage in a performative relationship with the past, constructing their own metaphorical representations of historical events. It explores the challenges of navigating historical narratives and the potential for metaphorical constructions to challenge dominant interpretations of the past.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This thesis examines the role of metaphor in constructing and deconstructing historical narratives, focusing on the novels of Julian Barnes, Graham Swift, and Kazuo Ishiguro. Key themes include post-war British society, national and cultural identity, historical spectacle and performance, and the influence of deconstructionist theory on literary interpretation. The analysis considers the potential of metaphor to both reinforce and challenge dominant historical interpretations, highlighting the ways in which individual experiences intersect with broader historical frameworks.
- Quote paper
- Master of Arts Daria Przybyla (Author), 2007, The status of metaphor in (de)constructing historical master-narratives in the novels of Julian Barnes and Graham Swift and Kazuo Ishiguro, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/77069
