Theorizing Literature : Literary Theory in Contemporary Novels – and Their Analysis

This book offers an analytical model for the interpretation of theory-informed novels – American, English, French, German, and Italian – from the past 50 years. Works discussed include Laurent Binet’s The 7th Function of Language, Italo Calvino’s If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler , Patricia Duncker’s Hallucinating Foucault , Umberto Eco’s Foucault’s Pendulum , David Lodge’s Small World , and Juli Zeh’s Dark Matter . Erik Schilling shows how these works not only incorporate elements of theory in playful, intertextual ways, but productively work with theory – for instance, by elaborating the complexities of the roles of author and reader or by confronting the quest for meaning with an infinite network of signs. Schilling argues that the novels do not merely adopt theory; they create theory – and this theorizing literature requires new forms of interpretation. Preface Contents List of Figures List of Tables Chapter 1: Theory Permeating Literature The Intricate Relationship of Theory and Literature Earlier Forms of ‘Theory’ in Literature The Self-Presentation of ‘Theory-Informed’ Literature Shedding New Light on Theory in Literature This Book—And Beyond Bibliography Chapter 2: Second-Order Literary Theory Modeling the Observation Process Modes of Theory in Literature Self-Reflexive Reference: Explicit Reflection upon an Intertextual Relation Direct Reference: Citation Marked as Such Indirect Reference: Reference to Author, Title, Character, etc. Narrative Similarity: Situation, Character, Motif, etc. Structural Similarity: Narrative Pattern, Device, Instance, etc. Generic Similarity: Form, Genre, etc. Overview of the Literary Texts in Terms of the Modes of Theory Levels of Theory in Literature Preliminary Remark: On the Various Diegetic Levels Paradiegetic: Theory in Text Next to the Narrative Peridiegetic: Theory Within Formal Elements, ‘Around’ the Narrative Exodiegetic: Theory as Part of Narrative Entities (Narrator; Implied Author/Reader) Diegetic: Narration of (the History of) Theory Endodiegetic: Theory Within Formally Closed Sub-Parts Metadiegetic: Theory Within a Narrative Position Overlooking the Level(s) Allegorical: Theory as a Character’s Trait Dialogical: Theory Within a Dialogue Between Characters Overview of the Literary Texts in Terms of the Levels of Theory Functions of Theory in Literature Presentation: Interpretive Processes and Their Premises Dynamization: Theory as a Catalyst for the Story Evaluation: Affirmative vs. Critical Presentation of Theory Rejection: Postulation of a Pre- or Post-Theoretical World Overview of the Literary Texts in Terms of the Functions of Theory Extrapolation of Theory from Literature Metaization of Theory: Self-Reflexive Considerations on Theory Creation of Theory: Developing New Concepts for Theory Overview of the Literary Texts in Terms of an Extrapolation of Theory The Four Dimensions of Second-Order Literary Theory Bibliography Chapter 3: Narrating Literary Theory Presenting Theory as a Character’s Trait: David Lodge’s Small World (1984) The Anti-Theorist The Deconstructivist Losing Faith in Deconstruction The Daily Life Structuralist Using Reception-Theory as Method The Marxist Driving a Bentley Linking Hermeneutics to Literary Criticism The Meta-Theorist Dealing with Sex and Gender in Theory and Life The Computer Philologist Mistaking Artificial Intelligence Theory—And the World Narrating a History of Theory: Laurent Binet’s The 7th Function of Language (La septième fonction du langage, 2015) A History of Theory An Allegorical Presentation of Theory A Novel Presenting Interpretive Processes A Dialogical Presentation of Theory A Self-Reflexive Presentation of Theory Bibliography Chapter 4: Topics in/of Theory Queering Desire and Discourse: Patricia Duncker’s Hallucinating Foucault (1996) Author, Reader, and Text Intertextuality and Discourse Analysis ‘Queer’ Voices Within the Text The ‘Normal’ and the ‘Mad’ Literature as a ‘Counter-Site’ Questioning the Gender of People and Texts: Ulrike Draesner’s Dowry (Mitgift, 2002) One Interpretive Option Two Options Following One Another Avoiding Categories The Unambiguous in a Polyvalent World An Overwhelming Number of Options Ambivalence Coloring the World(view): Mithu Sanyal’s Identtiti (2021), with a Side Glance to Bernadine Evaristo’s Girl, Woman, Other (2019) Modes of Integrating Theory in “Identitti” Levels of Integrating Theory in “Identitti” Functions of Integrating Theory in “Identitti” A Side Glance: Bernadine Evaristo’s Girl, Woman, Other (2019) Critical Race Theory—And Beyond Bibliography Chapter 5: The Fragile Relationship of Author, Reader, and Text Eliminating the Author: Daniel Kehlmann’s F (2013) Intertextual Authorship: Multiple Authors as a Background Choir Arthur: Writing Novels that Blur Fiction and Reality Martin: Conjuring up a God He Does Not Believe In Eric: Fabricating Money out of Nowhere Iwan: Creating Art in the Name of Another Daniel Kehlmann: Faking Fiction Within Fiction Creating the Reader: Italo Calvino’s If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler (Se una notte d’inverno un viaggiatore, 1979) The Real, the Implied, and the Diegetic Reader A Multitude of Fictional Readers Theories of Reading An ‘Open Work’? Building a World Made of Text: Christoph Ransmayr’s The Last World (Die letzte Welt, 1988) Dissolving the Author Losing the Reader Multiple Authors and Readers Reality and Fiction Within the Novel Bibliography Chapter 6: Creating and Interpreting Fictional Worlds Limiting Interpretations: Umberto Eco’s Foucault’s Pendulum (Il pendolo di Foucault, 1988) The Longing for a Fixed Point of Interpretation Interpreting a ‘Secret Message’ The Relationship Between Author, Reader, and Text A Moment of Presence Going Back to Interpretive Theory Creating Fictional Worlds: Juli Zeh’s Dark Matter (Schilf, 2007) Different Theories and Different Lives Fiction as a Means of Creating and Sustaining Different Worlds Fiction as a Blending of Ambiguous and Unambiguous Aspects The Importance of the Viewer and the Viewpoint Bibliography Chapter 7: Beyond Novels—Beyond Theory? Self-Commenting Parody: Jan Wagner’s Poetry Collection The Owl Haters in the Hall Houses (Die Eulenhasser in den Hallenhäusern, 2012) “Owl Haters” and Biographical Literary Studies “Owl Haters” and a Mimetic Understanding of Literature “Owl Haters” and the Scholarly Commentary “Owl Haters” and Hermeneutics “Owl Haters” and Intertextuality “Owl Haters” and Post-Structuralism “Owl Haters” and a Second-Order Literary Theory Negotiating the Protagonist’s Death: Marc Forster’s Film Stranger than Fiction (2006) Observing the Observer Trying to Understand Questioning Oneself and the Others Staging Interrelations of Life, Literature, and Theory Bibliography Chapter 8: Theory Extrapolated from Literature ‘Non-Theoretical’ Forms of Theory Authorship as an Act of Creation Authorship as a Foundation of Identity Authorship as Not Clearly Attributable Authorship as Fragmentary Authorship and the Interplay Between Text and Recipients Theoretical Remarks within Literary Texts Literature Inspiring Theory Summary New Perspectives on Authorship New Perspectives on Theory Through Literature Bibliography Name Index Subject Index