SECTION 1, general terminology till 1.3.
Formalists (Structuralists)
Rather than seek abstract qualities like imagination as the basis of literariness, the ____ set out to define the observable 'devices' by which literary texts—especially poems—foreground their own language, in metre, rhyme, and other patterns of sound and repetition. Literariness was understood in terms of defamiliarization, as a series of deviations from 'ordinary' language.
World-making (Welterzeugung)
"the art of creating a new fictional world" It is, in short, the creation of fictional worlds. E.g. J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, in The Lord of the Rings. J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter George Orwell "1984" Plato "The Republic" Lewis Carroll "Alice's adventures in Wonderland narratology, diegesis?
metatextuality / metareference / metareferentiality Eli's definitions MOST GENERAL
"writing about the writing" → breaks the aesthetic illusion typical feature of post-modernism A type of textual self-reflexivity (capacity of fiction to reflect on its own status) in which the fictionality (or constructedness) of narrative and issues relating to textuality are foregrounded. E.g. Samuel Beckett "Endgame" What are the functions? • to be funny • playful exploration of the possibilities and limits of fiction • to try to break free from old forms: undermining aesthetic illusion • commenting on aesthetic procedures • to pose questions about the relationship between fiction and reality
Ambiguity (Ambiguität, Mehrdeutigkeit)
(an example of) the fact of something having more than one possible meaning and therefore possibly causing confusion/in the case of literature
literary history (Literaturgeschichte)
(re)constructs the development of literature, taking into account theoretical assumptions, criticism and historical contexts. Problems: Why and how did certain texts and genres come into existence? Why are some texts/ genres in- or excluded from the canon?
Ambiguity (Ambiguität, Mehrdeutigkeit)
= Polyvalence
paradigmatic
A __ relation is a relation that holds between (linguistic) elements of the same category, i.e. elements that can be substituted for each other without disturbing the syntax. → based on similarity/equivalence → level of selection
Code
A shared set of rules or conventions by which signs can be combined to permit a message to be communicated from one person to another A system of rules that enables the interpretation of linguistic signs.
recurrence / equivalence (Rekurrenz/Äquivalenz)
A type/method of foregrounded regularity A type of repetition in a literary text Recurrence = A type/method of foregrounded regularity, a type of repetition in a literary text (e.g.sound, words, sentence structures) Equivalence = Utterances have similar meaning although they have different structures IS IT THE SAME??? Equivalence = A type of foregrounded regularity, it is used to defamiliarise and to foreground language Figures that come again and again; e.g. metre , rhyme (phonic equivalence), diction etc
addressee
Appellative/conative function(appellative Funktion) · __________ -centred · leads the communication towards the ____ (recipient) · to convince the ___
literary history (Literaturgeschichte)
Can be divided into two major areas: English and American literature → these areas have been joined over the past decades. What?
Self-referentiality (Autorenreferentialität)
Concept in literary theory which in the past few decades been seen to be characteristic of 'postmodern' writing.
decoding
D_________________: the reverse process of converting data which has been sent by a source into information understandable for a receiver
Self-referentiality (Autorenreferentialität)
E.g. : of what? Se una notte d'inverno un viaggiatore = ENG. If on a winter's night a traveler. It is a 1979 POSTMODERN novel by the Italian writer Italo Calvino. It is a book about books.
Foregrounding
Emphasising textual features, making something stand out from the surrounding words or images → basic model of poetic techniques → the way in which a text is written/structured becomes the most important point of interest.
independent
Every performance should be regarded as an _____________'theatrical work of art'
Satire
Example of The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, etc.
ambiguity
Example of ____ "Time flies like a banana" vs "Time flies like a banana"
speaker
Expressive/emotive function(expressive/emotive Funktion) · _______-centred · leads the communication towards the addresser (speaker, writer) · to externalise a emotion or thoughts
Self-referentiality (Autorenreferentialität)
FUNCTIONS of literature • For Horace (I. sec. a.C.): The aim of the poet is to inform or delight (it. diletto). The readers' need for pleasure and/or profit (Latin ________________________________________________).
External form form content reality
Genres are often distinguished by • e________ f________ (prose vs poetry) • the f______ of communication (e.g. narrative, drama); • mood or attitude (elegy, satire) • c________(crime, science-fiction) • the relation to r_______________ (mimetic vs. non-mimetic) and • Aesthetic effect (comedy, horror) • or a combination of these criteria.
• fictionality • specialised language • lack of pragmatic function • ambiguity.
IT possible to sift out some of the criteria scholars have applied in order to demarcate 'literary texts' from 'non-literary texts'. These criteria include: • f________________ • s________________ l________________ • l________________ o___ p________________ f________________ • a________________.
broad narrow
In the attempt to define the term 'literature', one can distinguish between two general directions: a ________and a _________definition.
analogic sign
In these signs there is a relationship/natural connection between signifier and signified.
rhetoric
Is a literary device/technique. of using language effectively and persuasively in spoken or written form. It is an art of discourse, which studies and employs various methods to convince, influence, or please an audience.
syntagmatic
It contrasts with ____ relation, which applies to relations holding between elements that are combined with each other. The links between and possible ways of combining elements within a sentence or text. → level of combination
Intertextuality (Intertextualität)
It is a sophisticated literary device making use of a textual reference within some body of text, which reflects again the text used as a reference. Simply put: When one literary text refers to other literary texts either explicitly or implicitly Explicit intertextuality (quoted) Implicit intertextuality (nothing is quoted directly; adopting ideas) Example: James Joyce retells The Odyssey in his very famous novel Ulysses. Prätext (The Odyssey) ← Hypertext (Ulysses by Joyce) (e.g. If the Odyssey is explicitly mentioned in a text vs. if a text uses the story of Ulysses and his comrades. The reader has the original text in mind and often this is a prerequisite to understand a text → e.g. differences between the two texts have to be noticed and create meaning) Can only be successful when author and recipient can count on each other's awareness → otherwise intertextuality does not work
literary genres (sub-genres) (Literar. Gattungen / Untergattungen)
It refers to a group of literary works that share significant characteristics in terms of content, form and/or function. It changes over time.
(1) context (2) message. (3) addresser (4) addressee (5) contact (6) code
Jakobson's model of the functions of language distinguishes six factors of communication, necessary for communication to occur: (1) c (2) m (3) a (4) a (5) c (6) c
digital
Language is made of ___________ signs (signs themselves have no own meaning → there is no analogy)
mise en abyme
MEYER 100 → it is a self-referential repetition of one element in another that raises structural awareness It occurs in a text when there is a reduplication of images or concepts referring to the textual whole. Functions: • It heightens the reader's awareness of the artistic medium • It raises structural awareness An example would be employing a novel within a novel, or perhaps the more common example of a play-within-a-play. Important for postmodernism. C'era una volta un re che disse alla sua serva... raccontami una storia e la storia incominciò ....
Onomatopoeia
Meow
code
Metalingual function(metasprachliche Funktion) · _________ -centred · to establish that it is shared by both parties
ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT AND USAGE OF TERMS metatextuality / metareference / metareferentiality
Metareference is the most general term used in different types of media (television, photography ect...) Metafiction/Metatextuality are synonyms are usually used in literary studies 'Metareference' is not yet a received notion in the humanities. In literary studies, one may instead encounter a plethora of partly overlapping terms which all have various degrees of affinity with 'metareference', in particular 'self-consciousness' (e. g. Alter 1975), 'self-reference' or 'self-referentiality' (e. g. Cornis-Pope 1997, Nöth/ Bishara, eds. 2007), 'autoreferentiality' (e. g. Nemec 1993), 'self-reflexivity' (e. g. Huber/Middeke/Zapf, eds. 2005), 'reflexivity' (e. g. Williams 1998), 'metanarrativity' (Nünning 2004), 'metatextuality' (e. g. Kravar 1987), 'metafiction' (e. g. Currie, ed. 1995), 'metanovel' (e. g. Lowenkron 1976), 'introverted novel' (Fletcher/Bradbury 1976) 'metadrama'/'metatheatre' (e. g. Abel 1963, Hornby 1986, Schmeling 1982), 'metapoetry' (e. g. Müller-Zettelmann 2000). Wolf's detailed typology has also provided a sound basis for the analysis of metafiction in various other genres such as poetry, drama and music. In recent contributions, Wolf (2009) seeks to increase the transmedial applicability of metafiction by reconceptualizing it in a first step as a non media-specific concept, namely as "metareference.". Metareference denotes a signifying practice that elicites "meta-awareness". METANARRATION → hasn't become a common category of narratology. Why? the term metafiction is so widely used in English for all sorts of anti-illusionistic techniques that forms of metanarration are generally subsumed under this umbrella.
metatextuality / metareference / metareferentiality (Metatextualität) Kathi's definitions
Metatextuality is explicit or implicit critical commentary of one text on another text. Metatextuality "denotes explicit or implicit references of one text on another text". In Genette's words, "it unites a given text to another, of which it speaks without necessarily citing it (without summoning it), in fact sometimes even without naming it" (1997a, p4). He "explicitly refers to clear and obvious way, leaving no doubt as to the intended meaning. By implicit references, Genette expects an implied reference, not stated, but understood in what is expressed" (Simandan, 32). So when text 1 criticizes and interprets text 2, their relationship will be metatextual relationship, because text 2 that interprets, criticizes and explains is metatextual rather than text 1. Metatextual relationship can act in explaining, denying or approving of text 1 Example: Metatextuality is a book of commentary on a literary text. Metatextuality is the relationship between a text and another text of criticism written "after"(chronologically) it. E.g. "This great Stage: Image and Structure in King Lear" by Robert Hielman Metatextuality: is a form of intertextual discourse in which one text makes critical commentary on another text. This concept is related to Gérard Genette's concept of transtextuality in which a text changes or expands on the content of another text. Metareference: is a metafiction technique, is a situation in a work of fiction whereby characters display an awareness that they are in such a work, such as a film, television show or book, and possibly that they are being observed by an audience. Sometimes it may even just be a form of editing or film-making technique that comments on the programme/film/book itself.
REFERENTIAL
Other examples for the functions: ____________ FUNCTION: It is denotative oriented toward the 'context'. factual information: "Water boils at 100 degrees." "The Earth is round",
channel (contact)
Phatic function(phatische Funktion) · _________ -centred ®between addresser & addressee · maintaining or confirming their link (e.g. tags in conversation)
message
Poetic function(poetische Funktion) · _________ -centred
layout
Refers to an arrangement, plan or design. The process of arranging content and information in a manner that creates an effective presentation. The way a text is presented on the page, when it is printed. Usually it is printed in verses and stanzas, but it can also be different → concrete poetry (George Herbert "The Altar" → looks like an altar). (Easter Wings, George Herbert)
context message addresser addressee contact code
Roman Jakobson, the Russian-American linguist, described 6 functions of language • Referential function - ______________: It's raining. • Poetic function - ___________: Droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven. • Emotive function - _____________ : It's bloody pissing down again. • Conative function -_____________ : Wait here till it stops raining. • Phatic function - ____________ : Nast weather again, isn't it? • Metalingual function - __________ : This is the weather forecast
Referential Poetic Emotive Conative Phatic Metalingual
Roman Jakobson, the Russian-American linguist, described 6 functions of language • __________________function - context: It's raining. • _______________ function - message: Droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven. • ________________function - addresser: It's bloody pissing down again. • _________________ function - addressee: Wait here till it stops raining. • _____________ function - contact: Nast weather again, isn't it? • ____________ function - code: This is the weather forecast
Fictionality (Fictionalität)
Term that refers to the invented or imaginative character of the world represented in a literary text.
speaker (Sprecher)
The ____ : in poetry, the voice behind the poem-the person we imagine to be saying the thing out loud.
narrator (Erzähler)
The ____ is the person in the essay who tells the story.
real author
The `??? is the actual person who wrote the literary work.
Defamiliarization (Verfremdung)
The artistic technique of presenting to audiences common things in an unfamiliar or strange way in order to enhance perception of the familiar. (e.g. Brecht: absurdes Theater) → disrupting our habitual perception of the world How? For example by employing not everyday language. Writers use this technique to help demonstrate the line between reality and their art. Although literary works are often praised for faithful reflections of real life, their authors still recognize them as pieces of art and use defamiliarization to remind their readers of that fact. Literature is defined by its deviation from the conventional rules of language. Does not differ in content from everyday language, but in HOW content is expressed. Deviation = Abweichung
encoded decoded
The message is ________by the author and ________ by the reader.
arbitrariness
The opposite of iconicity is ________.
Code (Kode)
The rules that govern the writing and reading of text, a set of conventions that are used to create meaning. Meyer p. 9 → language in literary texts
Onomatopoeia (Onomatopoesie)
The use of words that seems to imitate, echo or suggest the object it is describing. It creates a sound effect that mimics what it describes. Words that sound like what they express.
intrinsic
There is no ______________ relationship between signifier and signified, it is NOT possible to grasp reality with linguistic sign
manipulation of reader (audience response) (Sympathielenkung)
Ways of directing the readers' reaction/emotions towards literary texts and characters The reader's reaction can be directed by speech acts, for example. The voice - both in narration, and in dialog - establishes how we relate to a story. t its most basic level, it controls the emotional distance with which we perceive it, and is most powerful when wedded to the story's themes.
Literary criticism (Literaturkritik)
What field describes, analyses, interprets and evaluates literature?
implied worldview (Gothic fiction)
What is this? - pessimistic or ambivalent view of man, as opposed to the optimistic Enlightenment view of man as a basically good and perfectible being - dualism of good and evil: duality of man himself; evil: is no longer external to man (merely social) but progressively internalized; evil ultimately inexplicable -> irreducibility of evil -> symptomatic of a 'Manichean view of man' on the surface: essentially moral view of the world and esp. of man along the lines of the basic opposition 'good vs. evil' - ambiguity of norms: the surface of Gf often seems to transport traditional morality, yet it is the infractions of this morality which constitute the thrilling part of the genre (voyeuristic insistence on these infractions) -> surface morality often undermined - happy endings: questionable compensation for the destabilization of norms contained in Gf
EXTENSION FUNCTIONS CONTENT FORM
What kind of aspect could be discussed regarding the definition of literature? E________________. F________________. C________________. F________________.
symbolic sign
What kind of signs are these? E.g., traffic signs, national flags, heart for love Language constitutes of these signs!
Oral, written, audiovisual
What kind of texts/medium are there?
Indexical
What type of sign is it? e.g., smoke signifies fire
literary theory criticism history
Which disciplines are included in literary studies?
literary theory (Literaturtheorie)
Who does this? • raises our awareness of what we are doing when we read literature • provides us with new perspectives and concepts to analyse texts • helps us to understand secondary material, and • to communicate our own insights to others
symbolic sign
_____ sign is assigned arbitrarily or is accepted as societal convention.
Oral
______ literature: Has existed since time immemorial and is still of great importance in many cultures (Australia, Africa, New Zealand). Is based on contact, participation and community. Usually takes place in face-to-face interaction, includes voice, facial expression, gesture, and movement to support understanding. Take the response and situation of the audience into account, which results in unique performances
Audiovisual
___________ medium examples Theatre and cinema
EMOTIVE
____________ FUNCTION :or "expressive function". It focuses on the 'addresser', it externalizes a speaker's emotion or thoughts. Interjections. "Bah!" , "Oh!" , "Yuck!" "Ouch" ,"Aie".
METALINGUAL
____________ FUNCTION: 'Code' performs the "metalingual function" to check whether they use same code and when the language is used to speak about language. "What do you mean by "krill"?" , " What is lucked?".
PHATIC
____________ FUNCTION: focus on the 'contact'. Used to know whether channel works or whether the contact is still there. Purpose maintain the contact with the person we are talking to. "Hello!" "Are you listening?" "Do you hear me?".
POETIC
____________ FUNCTION: is orientation toward "message" and "the focus on the message for its own sake". Poetry. → reflects on the utterance itself, more opaque language
CONATIVE
____________ FUNCTION: orientation toward 'addressee'. vocative and imperative sentences, orders and prayers. "Drink!" or "Go Away".
implied norms Implizite Normen)
_____________________ (operating in the text) are the "unwritten,", implied and generally understood and agreed upon, rules that play a significant role
paratext
a text which is supplementary to the actual literary text; e.g. title, subtitle, dedication, preface and concluding remarks
Signifier
any material thing (graphic or sound image) that signifiers and points to the signified, e.g., words on a page, form, sound, shape, letter
Dramas
are texts that are written to be performed as plays
Genres
change over time (think about how contemporary poetry, for example, often ignores metre and rhyme, which have been hallmarks of the genre for centuries.
signification
code defined as A culture's system of __________through which reality is mediated; relationship between system and reality is arbitrary
Signified
conceptual component of a sign
literary studies
defined by three interrelated disciplines, which are: 1. literary theory 2. criticism 3. history.
breaking of illusion (Illusionsdurchbrechung)
destruction / reduction of the aesthetic illusion in literary texts, for example, by means of the thematization of the fictionality of a work
iconic
e.g. the male and female symbols on toilet doors, a portrait of the person it resembles, a map for the geographical area it represents
Ephemeral
e______________ nature of the performance (≠ written text) → can never be exactly reproduced.
encoding
e______________: the process by which a source performs this conversion of information into data which is then sent to a receiver
parody
essentially imitative work. It uses the skeleton of an original work and adds its own comedic elements that strive towards either exaggerating the flaws of the original work or trivializing it, or in some cases both. E.g. in the mainstream media: scary movies.
literary genres / sub-genres (Literar. Gattungen / Untergattungen)
form a system of groups of texts defined by sets of conventions, which guide both the writing and reading of texts.
narrative literature (Erzählliteratur)
genre recounted by a narrator to a narratee.
drama
genre that It consists of text, transformation and performance
Willkürlichkeit
in German --> arbitrariness
Iconicity (Ikonizität)
is a relationship of resemblance/similarity between the two aspects of a sign: its form and its meaning.
literary theory (Literaturtheorie)
it deals with the scientific and methodological basic-knowledge of literary studies.
Satire
it uses irony, and in some cases, exaggeration to expose vices and shortcomings of an entity, be it an individual or a complex and interdependent system such as our society. Usually meant to be humorous, greater purpose is often constructive social criticism, drawing attention to particular and/or wider issues on society It is used to elicit thinking and realization in the audience.
study, evaluation, interpretation
literary criticism (Literaturwissenschaft) is the s_____ e______ and i_____ of literature.
Authors genres Periods
literary history (Literaturgeschichte) includes: - _________ (Hemmingway, Shakespeare, Austen, Joyce) - Typical ___________ (morality plays, ballad, sonnet, tragedy etc.) - ________: Economical, sociological and historical background → understand allusions
Signifier
perceptible component of a sign
context
referential function(referentielle Funktion) · _____-centred, factual information that is conveyed · also beyond the message itself
linguistic sign
signifier + signified =
Indexical
signs where the signifier is caused by the signified. directly connected in some way to the object.
(left) justification / justified
text is aligned along the left margin
dramatic
the ____________text functions as the script on which a performance is based
fourth wall
the agreed-upon boundary between the audience and the performers
chance conventional culturally
the principle of arbitrariness of linguistic signs The relationship between the components of the sign (signifier, signified) is based on c_______ rather than being planned or based on reason, purely c____ and c______ specific.
iconic
the signifier resembles the signified. e.g., a picture.
Sign
the smallest unit of meaning / conveyor of meaning
aesthetic illusion (Ästhetische Illusion)
type of mental absorption ("Willing suspension of disbelief by the reader") As readers we indulge in it. We believe in the aesthetic world and are aware of the fact - at the same time or intermittently - that it is "only" fiction. It allows us to 'immerse' ourselves vividly in the represented worlds in a state of aesthetic illusion without taking them for reality
functions of literary texts (Funktionen literarischer Texte)
what are these? o Transport ideologies, ideas, philosophies and they might entertain o Philosophical and aesthetic ......→ how something is written.
medium
what is it? Channel, material form of literature. Oral, written, audiovisual
Literariness
what makes a given work a literary work'.
METAFICTION Eli's definitions
writing about fiction and constructedness of texts Secondary level of ..... The foregrounding of discourse is called metafiction, fiction about fiction, dealing with or referring to the act of writing, raising awareness of its own construction (or commenting on genre conventions). Implicit metafiction calls attention to its language by foregrounding style or form, Explicit metafiction by the direct discussion of its construction. The own medium is emphasised to reflect about language, narration structure and plot This is a quality of meta-fictional literature that has two levels of dialogue: 1. a typical text. 2. level of commentary in which the text knowingly comments on what it is doing. It calls your attention to the process of its own creation, or the text will knowingly get in its own way, interrupting what it is doing
METATEXTUALITY Eli's definitions
writing about other texts (text makes critical commentary on another text). This concept is related to Gérard Genette's concept of transtextuality in which a text changes or expands on the content of another text. Metatextuality is explicit or implicit critical commentary of one text on another text. Metatextuality "denotes explicit or implicit references of one text on another text" In Genette's words, "it unites a given text to another, of which it speaks without necessarily citing it (without summoning it), in fact sometimes even without naming it". Metatextual relationship can act in explaining, denying or approving of text. Metatextuality plays a significant role in establishing the "reputation" of a writer. Conversely the absence of metatexts for a text diminishes it and restricts its appeal. Example: Metatextuality is a book of commentary on a literary text. Metatextuality is the relationship between a text and another text of criticism written "after"(chronologically) it. E.g. "This great Stage: Image and Structure in King Lear" by Robert Hielman
subjective expression
• Wordsworth (Romanticism) regards literature primarly as the author's s___________ e-------------
Literariness
→ is the property of being literary: being a work of literature. It is the feature that makes a given work a literary work. Quality that distinguishes a literary work from ordinary texts.
METAREFERENCE Eli's definitions
→ media-unspecific definition Umbrella term Self-reflexive comments on, or references to, various kinds of media-related aspects of a given medial artefact or performance. Wolf's definitions → a media independent umbrella-term for meta-aspects in all arts and media. 'Metareference' as a transmedial concept can in brief be explained as follows: metareference issues forth from a logically higher 'meta-level' within a given artefact or performance, and denotes any self-reflexive reference to, or comment on, media-related aspects of the given medial artefact or performance, of a particular medium or the media in general.
implied worldview
→ represents a synthetic, overall position or viewpoint. → is a set of assumptions about physical and social reality that may have powerful effects on cognition and behavior.