"A History of the World in 10 ½ Chapters" by Julian Barnes is neither easy to understand nor to classify. Both problems, comprehensibility and classification, emerge from the same root: The book’s complex structure. The 10 1/2 chapters seem to be autonomous episodes rather than parts of the same novel. Therefore, some critics have argued that it was rather ‘a gathering of prose pieces, some fiction, others rather like essays’ and no homogeneous piece of prose. On the other hand, they have also discovered elements which do connect the chapters. Therefore, one could conclude that if A History [...] does not fit into established patterns of the genre novel, it must be a post-modern novel, as the linking elements make it more than just a collection ‘of prose pieces’.
The other main problem, comprehensibility, is tightly connected with the issues structure and categorisation. Given that readers have discovered connecting elements and found that they add common meaning to the single chapters, they might still have unanswered questions. Does such a complicated structure imply a certain meaning that is beyond the content of the single stories and their common motifs?
Many post-modern books do not provide explanations, but A History of the World in 10 ½ Chapters does.
The ‘half chapter’, called ‘Parenthesis’, is the key to the novel. It contains clear, unambiguous statements about three major issues: history, love and truth. Although it does not explain the novel, it philosophies about its main topics and thus implies the significance of the book’s literary patterns.
I have chosen to examine ‘Parenthesis’ because it contains essential thoughts which make the book more accessible and are, above all, interesting in their own right. Consequently, I will consider the contents of the chapters as well as their linking elements only in regard to ‘Parenthesis’. This also holds true for literary aspects such as genre-transgression and the established concept of ‘historical novel’, which will be part of the argument, but are not the object of this paper. Nevertheless, it is indispensable to introduce the whole novel, that is every chapter, in order to get an impression of the diversity as well as of common underlying issues, which are then reflected in ‘Parenthesis’.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. INTRODUCTION
- 1.1. PROBLEMS
- 1.2. FOCUS
- 2. THE NOVEL
- 2.1. STRUCTURE: DISCONNECTION - CONNECTION
- 2.2. IMPLICATIONS CONSIDERING HISTORY
- 3. 'PARENTHESIS' AS SYNTHESIS
- 3.1. VOICE
- 3.2. TITLE: UNDERSTATEMENT
- 3.3. WHAT DOES 'PARENTHESIS' SAY ABOUT HISTORY?
- 3.4. WHAT DOES 'PARENTHESIS' SAY ABOUT LOVE?
- 4. CONCLUSION
- 4.1. SUMMARY
- 4.2. CRITICISM
- 5. REFERENCES
- 5.1. PRIMARY SOURCES
- 5.2. SECONDARY SOURCES
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to analyze the “Parenthesis” chapter of Julian Barnes’s novel, A History of the World in 10 ½ Chapters, and its role in understanding the book’s overall themes and structure. The essay will examine the chapter’s content and its relationship to the other chapters in the book. Additionally, it will delve into the chapter’s significance as a means of connecting disparate narrative elements and presenting central ideas about history, love, and truth.
- The fragmented structure of the novel and its impact on the overall meaning
- The role of the “Parenthesis” chapter in connecting the various narrative threads
- The interplay between history, love, and truth in the novel
- The author’s use of allusion and metafiction in constructing the narrative
- The book’s exploration of contemporary and historical events and their relevance to human experience
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The novel A History of the World in 10 ½ Chapters is composed of ten distinct chapters, each offering a unique narrative perspective and style. The chapters explore various themes, events, and characters, showcasing the author’s ability to weave diverse literary genres and perspectives into a complex and engaging narrative. Each chapter, though seemingly disconnected, contributes to the overall narrative tapestry.
- The “Stowaway” chapter reinterprets the biblical story of Noah’s Ark from the perspective of a woodworm living inside the Ark. The chapter presents a new perspective on Noah, portraying him as a flawed and volatile character.
- “The Visitors” chapter recounts the hijacking of a cruise ship by Arab terrorists, drawing parallels to real-world events such as the Achille Lauro hijacking.
- “The Wars of Religion” chapter takes the form of a legal proceeding, exploring the prosecution of woodworms in a 16th-century French town for consuming parts of a church. The chapter highlights the historical practice of persecuting animals, revealing an intriguing aspect of the medieval worldview.
- “The Survivor” chapter follows a young woman fleeing a nuclear catastrophe, drawing parallels to the Chernobyl disaster. The chapter utilizes shifting perspectives and narrative voices, creating a complex and unsettling atmosphere.
- “Shipwreck” chapter examines the 1816 shipwreck of the Medusa, providing a historical account of the disaster and a metafictional analysis of Theodore Géricault's painting “The Raft of the Medusa”.
- “The Mountain” chapter focuses on a Victorian woman, Miss Fergusson, who embarks on a mission to find Noah’s Ark at Mount Ararat. Her unwavering determination and ultimate demise in the mountains are compelling elements of the story.
- “Three Simple Stories” chapter presents three narratives about individuals on voyages. The first story explores the tale of a survivor of the Titanic, the second recounts a sailor swallowed by a whale, and the third details the plight of Jewish refugees on the St. Louis attempting to escape Nazi Germany.
- “Upstream” chapter follows an actor filming a movie in the South American jungle through his letters and telegrams to his girlfriend. The chapter examines themes of friendship, loss, and cultural clash.
- “Project Ararat” chapter recounts the story of an astronaut who believes he has found the remains of Noah’s Ark during an expedition in Turkey. The chapter reveals a surprising twist, connecting the astronaut’s discovery to the fate of Miss Fergusson in the previous chapter.
- “The Dream” chapter explores the narrator’s fantasy about life after death, narrated from the past. The chapter delves into the themes of mortality, memory, and the enduring power of love.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The novel, A History of the World in 10 ½ Chapters, explores themes of history, love, and truth through a fragmented and non-linear narrative structure. Key concepts include metafiction, allusion, postmodernism, historical fiction, and the exploration of individual experience within broader historical contexts. The "Parenthesis" chapter, which focuses on the interconnectivity of these themes, provides a crucial lens through which to understand the novel's overarching message.
- Quote paper
- Cornelia Neumann (Author), 1999, Does our Life have a Meaning if History doesn't? An Examination of Parenthesis in Julian Barnes Novel "A History of the World in 10,5 Chapters", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/8903
