Difference between revisions of "2007-08 BM1: Session 14"
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<small>Back to [[2007-08 BM1 Introduction to the Critical and Scholarly Discussion of Literature, Part 1]]</small> | <small>Back to [[2007-08 BM1 Introduction to the Critical and Scholarly Discussion of Literature, Part 1]]</small> | ||
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+ | ==---1. Introductory Reflectinos: Literary Theory and the Interpretation of Texts -- ''Robinson Crusoe'' and ''The Moonstone''== | ||
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+ | Literary Theory, at its most general, addresses two questions: | ||
+ | #What is literature? | ||
+ | #How should literature be interpreted? | ||
+ | |||
+ | *As regards the first point, we have been doing 'literary theory' throughout this lecture. | ||
+ | *As regards the second point, we will add another question: Why should literature be interpreted? | ||
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+ | Some anecdotal evidence: | ||
+ | *Wilkie Collins, ''The Moonstone'' (1868), Chapter 1: | ||
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+ | :::In the first part of ROBINSON CRUSOE, at page one hundred and twenty-nine, you will find it thus written: | ||
+ | :::"Now I saw, though too late, the Folly of beginning a Work before we count the Cost, and before we judge rightly of our own Strength to go through with it." | ||
+ | :::Only yesterday, I opened my ROBINSON CRUSOE at that place. Only this morning (May twenty-first, Eighteen hundred and fifty), came my lady's nephew, Mr. Franklin Blake, and held a short conversation with me, as follows:— | ||
+ | :::… | ||
+ | :::Two hours have passed since Mr. Franklin left me. As soon as his back was turned, I went to my writing desk to start the story. There I have sat helpless (in spite of my abilities) ever since; seeing what Robinson Crusoe saw, as quoted above—namely, the folly of beginning a work before we count the cost, and before we judge rightly of our own strength to go through with it. Please to remember, I opened the book by accident, at that bit, only the day before I rashly undertook the business now in hand; and, allow me to ask—if THAT isn't prophecy, what is? | ||
+ | ::: | ||
+ | ::: […] such a book as ROBINSON CRUSOE never was written, and never will be written again. I have tried that book for years—generally in combination with a pipe of tobacco—and I have found it my friend in need in all the necessities of this mortal life. When my spirits are bad—ROBINSON CRUSOE. When I want advice—ROBINSON CRUSOE. In past times when my wife plagued me; in present times when I have had a drop too much—ROBINSON CRUSOE. I have worn out six stout ROBINSON CRUSOES with hard work in my service. On my lady's last birthday she gave me a seventh. I took a drop too much on the strength of it; and ROBINSON CRUSOE put me right again. Price four shillings and sixpence, bound in blue, with a picture into the bargain. | ||
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+ | ::::::http://www.gutenberg.org/files/155/155-h/155-h.htm (03.02.2007) | ||
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+ | *A similar scene is found in ''Robinson Crusoe'' itself, but here it is the Bible which provides guidance: | ||
+ | :::… | ||
+ | :::I went, directed by Heaven no doubt; for in this Chest I found a Cure, both for Soul and Body, I open’d the Chest, and found what I look’d for, viz. the Tobacco; and as the few Books, I had sav’d, lay there too, I took out one of the Bibles which I mention’d before, […] and brought both that and the Tobacco with me to the Table. | ||
+ | :::What Use to make of the Tobacco, I knew not, as to my Distemper, or whether it was good for it or no; but I try’d several Experiments with it, as if I was resolv’d it should hit one Way or other: … | ||
+ | :::In the Interval of this Operation, I took up the Bible and began to read, but my Head was too much disturb’d with the Tobacco to bear reading, at least that Time; only having open’d the Book casually, the first Words that occurr’d to me were these, Call on me in the Day of Trouble, and I will deliver, and thou shalt glorify me.* | ||
+ | :::The Words were very apt to my Case, and made some Impression upon my Thoughts at the Time of reading them, tho’ not so much as they did afterwards; for as for being deliver’d, the Word had no Sound, as I may say, to me; the Thing was so remote, so impossible in my Apprehension of Things, […] however, […] I mused upon them very often. […] but before I lay down, I did what I never had done in all my Life, I kneel’d down and pray’d to God to fulfil the Promise to me, that if I call’d upon him in the Day of Trouble, he would deliver me; … | ||
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+ | ::::::http://www.pierre-marteau.com/editions/1719-robinson-crusoe.html (03.02.2007) | ||
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*[http://www.uni-oldenburg.de/anglistik/lit-wiss/pre/bm1-lit-theory-timeline-1.pdf bm1-lit-theory-timeline-1.pdf] | *[http://www.uni-oldenburg.de/anglistik/lit-wiss/pre/bm1-lit-theory-timeline-1.pdf bm1-lit-theory-timeline-1.pdf] |
Revision as of 14:03, 5 February 2008
Back to 2007-08 BM1 Introduction to the Critical and Scholarly Discussion of Literature, Part 1
---1. Introductory Reflectinos: Literary Theory and the Interpretation of Texts -- Robinson Crusoe and The Moonstone
Literary Theory, at its most general, addresses two questions:
- What is literature?
- How should literature be interpreted?
- As regards the first point, we have been doing 'literary theory' throughout this lecture.
- As regards the second point, we will add another question: Why should literature be interpreted?
Some anecdotal evidence:
- Wilkie Collins, The Moonstone (1868), Chapter 1:
- In the first part of ROBINSON CRUSOE, at page one hundred and twenty-nine, you will find it thus written:
- "Now I saw, though too late, the Folly of beginning a Work before we count the Cost, and before we judge rightly of our own Strength to go through with it."
- Only yesterday, I opened my ROBINSON CRUSOE at that place. Only this morning (May twenty-first, Eighteen hundred and fifty), came my lady's nephew, Mr. Franklin Blake, and held a short conversation with me, as follows:—
- …
- Two hours have passed since Mr. Franklin left me. As soon as his back was turned, I went to my writing desk to start the story. There I have sat helpless (in spite of my abilities) ever since; seeing what Robinson Crusoe saw, as quoted above—namely, the folly of beginning a work before we count the cost, and before we judge rightly of our own strength to go through with it. Please to remember, I opened the book by accident, at that bit, only the day before I rashly undertook the business now in hand; and, allow me to ask—if THAT isn't prophecy, what is?
- […] such a book as ROBINSON CRUSOE never was written, and never will be written again. I have tried that book for years—generally in combination with a pipe of tobacco—and I have found it my friend in need in all the necessities of this mortal life. When my spirits are bad—ROBINSON CRUSOE. When I want advice—ROBINSON CRUSOE. In past times when my wife plagued me; in present times when I have had a drop too much—ROBINSON CRUSOE. I have worn out six stout ROBINSON CRUSOES with hard work in my service. On my lady's last birthday she gave me a seventh. I took a drop too much on the strength of it; and ROBINSON CRUSOE put me right again. Price four shillings and sixpence, bound in blue, with a picture into the bargain.
- http://www.gutenberg.org/files/155/155-h/155-h.htm (03.02.2007)
- A similar scene is found in Robinson Crusoe itself, but here it is the Bible which provides guidance:
- …
- I went, directed by Heaven no doubt; for in this Chest I found a Cure, both for Soul and Body, I open’d the Chest, and found what I look’d for, viz. the Tobacco; and as the few Books, I had sav’d, lay there too, I took out one of the Bibles which I mention’d before, […] and brought both that and the Tobacco with me to the Table.
- What Use to make of the Tobacco, I knew not, as to my Distemper, or whether it was good for it or no; but I try’d several Experiments with it, as if I was resolv’d it should hit one Way or other: …
- In the Interval of this Operation, I took up the Bible and began to read, but my Head was too much disturb’d with the Tobacco to bear reading, at least that Time; only having open’d the Book casually, the first Words that occurr’d to me were these, Call on me in the Day of Trouble, and I will deliver, and thou shalt glorify me.*
- The Words were very apt to my Case, and made some Impression upon my Thoughts at the Time of reading them, tho’ not so much as they did afterwards; for as for being deliver’d, the Word had no Sound, as I may say, to me; the Thing was so remote, so impossible in my Apprehension of Things, […] however, […] I mused upon them very often. […] but before I lay down, I did what I never had done in all my Life, I kneel’d down and pray’d to God to fulfil the Promise to me, that if I call’d upon him in the Day of Trouble, he would deliver me; …