Textual Analysis

This page is currently under construction.

This is a subpage of Historical Novels and deals with the specific topic of textual analysis of the historical novels that are subject of this course. These novels are Waverley by Sir Walter Scott, Tachmas, Prince of Persia by Jean-Regnauld Segrais, Tudor, A Prince of Wales by an anonymous author and Charles Dacres by an anonymous author. There are two other expert groups within this course, Writing of History and Problems of Genre.

Story-based Analysis

Setting

Tachmas: The novel is set in Persia around the 1666 to 1676. The exact date is not mentioned in the novel, may be deduced by several facts. The subtitle of the novel is 'An Historical Novel, which happn'd under the Sophy Seliman, who Reigns at this day' (Tachmas 1). It can be assumed that Sophy Seliman is the Persian Shah Suleiman I., who's reign lasted from 1666 to 1694. Since the novel was published 1676 this limits the time the novel could take place in to the first decade of Suleiman's rule. The setting is not described any further, the reader has to imagine it by himself.

Characters

Waverley:

Edward Waverley: - son of Richard Waverley - grows up with his uncle Sir Everard and Rachel at Waverley Honour - spends his youth reading in his uncle’s library Zitat 6 - lack of “proper” education (Zitat 5) - romantic and idealistic (Zitat 7) - innocent to the world - avoids responsibility and making decisions - a “mediocre hero”? (Georg Lukács

Rose Bradwardine: (light heroine) - daughter of Lowland baron Bradwardine - shares love for poetry with Edward - kind, caring, gentle, harmless - beautiful but not exciting - Edward marries her in the end

Flora McIvor: (dark heroine) - sister of Highland chief Fergus McIvor - passionate for the cause of Jacobitism - does not show any interest in Edward except for political reasons - exotic and beautiful (waterfall scene!) - intelligent - Edward is fascinated by her

Cited Works

Segrais, Jean-Regnauld. Tachmas, Prince of Persia - An Historical Novel which happen'd under the Sophy Seliman, who Reigns at this day. Translation by P. Porter. London, 1676