The art of literature has many faces. One of it is David Lodge, a British author and literary critic. With his literary work he explores society and culture as well as religion. It is the aim of this pre-academic work to analyse and compare two of his earlier novels: "The British Museum is Falling Down" (1965) and "How far can you go?" (1980). As a first step, the biographical background of David Lodge with a special focus on faith is examined. Moreover, it is clarified why he can be called a “Catholic novelist”. It is depicted how he has developed as a “Catholic novelist”.
Secondly, this work concentrates on the analysis of the two novels. Aspects of "The British Museum is Falling Down", which are central to Lodge’s literature, are analysed. Notably: Realism, Intertextuality and Catholic aspects. Furthermore, the same crucial aspects of "How far can you go?" are analysed, focusing on Catholic context. As a final step, the two novels are compared in a literary and Catholic context. Considering the elaborated aspects of the two novels ideas are established of how Catholic society has developed and how it has rebelled against the Church over the time.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Biographical Overview
2.1 David Lodge as a “Catholic author”
2.2 Brief overview of the novels “The British Museum is Falling Down” and “How far can you go?”
3 Aspects of the novel “The British Museum is Falling Down”
3.1 Realism
3.2 Intertextuality and Parody
3.3 Catholic Aspects
4 Aspects of the novel “How far can you go?”
4.1 Realism
4.2 Intertextuality
4.3 Catholic Aspects
5 Comparison of “The British Museum is Falling Down” and “How far can you go?”
6 Conclusion
7 Bibliography
Objectives & Research Topics
This work aims to analyze and compare two novels by British author David Lodge—"The British Museum is Falling Down" and "How far can you go?"—with a specific focus on the evolution of Catholic society and its relationship with Church doctrines over time.
- The biographical background of David Lodge and his development as a "Catholic novelist."
- Analysis of literary techniques such as Realism and Intertextuality in both novels.
- Examination of Catholic themes, specifically the impact of the encyclical Humanae Vitae.
- The transition of Catholic society from a state of fear-based adherence to a more critical and rebellious stance.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Realism
“[Realism is] the representation of experience in a manner which approximates closely to descriptions of similar experiences in non-literary texts of the same culture.”
This quote depicts David Lodge’s concept of Realism in his fiction. It allows us to research places, buildings, streets, events, situations and religious topics in his novels as Realism is an essential element in his works.
The first proper example - for there are many to mention - is when Adam drives to the British Museum in the morning and David Lodge begins to describe London and its streets in detail:
He writes that “Adam drove noisily down Great Russell Street and, […] swerved through the gates of the British Museum.” Great Russel Street exists in reality and leads to the gates of the British Museum, which Lodge describes later on: “[T]he Museum wore an autumnal aspect as if built of petrified fog. The gilt statuary reclining above the bulging pillars provided the only gleam of colour.” The fog plays a central role in this 24-hour story of Adam Appleby. It follows him throughout the novel e.g. when he wants to meet Virginia to get the unpublished manuscripts from Egbert Merrymarsh, the fog creates a mysterious atmosphere.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the motivation behind the research and outlines the comparative approach regarding David Lodge's novels.
2 Biographical Overview: This chapter examines David Lodge’s personal history, his Catholic education, and the influences that led him to be characterized as an "agnostic Catholic."
3 Aspects of the novel “The British Museum is Falling Down”: This chapter analyzes the first novel, focusing on its use of Realism, the intertextual parody of literary greats, and the central struggle with Catholic birth control doctrines.
4 Aspects of the novel “How far can you go?”: This chapter explores the second novel, highlighting its focus on the social-historical changes within the Church following the Second Vatican Council and the resulting impact on the characters' faith.
5 Comparison of “The British Museum is Falling Down” and “How far can you go?”: This chapter synthesizes the literary and thematic findings, contrasting the characters' initial restrained status with their later rebellion against Church teachings.
6 Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the findings, confirming that Lodge’s works trace an increasing critical detachment from rigid Catholic dogmas over time.
7 Bibliography: This chapter lists all primary and secondary sources used for the analysis.
Keywords
David Lodge, The British Museum is Falling Down, How far can you go?, Catholicism, Catholic novelist, Realism, Intertextuality, Parody, Humanae Vitae, Birth control, Second Vatican Council, Secularization, Faith, Literature, Social development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this literary work?
The work examines two novels by David Lodge to explore how Catholic society and faith evolved in Britain between the 1950s and the 1970s.
What are the primary themes analyzed in the study?
The key themes include the influence of Catholic doctrine on daily life, the tension between religious authority and personal conscience, and the role of birth control in shifting social norms.
What is the main research question of this work?
The work seeks to understand how David Lodge’s literature reflects the rebellion of Catholic society against restrictive Church doctrines, ultimately asking: How far should you go?
Which scientific methods are employed in this analysis?
The author uses a comparative literary analysis, focusing on elements of Realism, Intertextuality, and socio-historical context to interpret the novels.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It provides a biographical look at Lodge, a deep dive into the literary techniques and Catholic themes of the two featured novels, and a direct comparison of their thematic developments.
How would you characterize the keywords of this analysis?
The keywords center on David Lodge, the specific novels studied, and broader concepts like Catholicism, secularization, and intertextuality.
How does the novel "The British Museum is Falling Down" handle religious tension?
The characters struggle with anxiety and fear regarding birth control, but ultimately remain within the Church's system without full-scale rebellion.
How does the second novel differ in its portrayal of Catholic rebellion?
Unlike the first novel, "How far can you go?" depicts characters who actively navigate the "permissive society" and begin to detach themselves from the fear-based dogmas of the Church.
Why is the encyclical "Humanae Vitae" central to this research?
It represents the breaking point for many Catholics in Lodge’s novels, as its refusal to liberalize contraceptive teachings led to deep disillusionment and eventual rebellion.
Does the author conclude that Lodge is a traditional Catholic writer?
No, the author defines Lodge as an "agnostic Catholic," someone who observes and writes about faith from a background of experience but does not subscribe to a literal belief in all Church doctrines.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2020, A Literary and Catholic Discourse on David Lodge's novels "The British Museum is Falling Down" and "How far can you go?", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/904774
