Tradition and Fantasy in the Tales of Reb Nahman of Bratslav (SUNY Series in Judaica) (SUNY series in Judaica: Hermeneutics, Mysticism, and Religion)

One of the most radically innovative of Hasidic masters, Reb Nahman of Bratslav transformed images and concepts basic to Jewish thought into new and compelling forms. Tradition and Fantasy in the Tales of Reb Nahman of Bratslav uses comparative literary criticism, a range of Hasidic commentary, and original exegesis of the source texts to bring the complex artistry of Reb Nahman s thought to light, making it accessible to a wider audience." Front Matter 1 Half Title Page 3 Title Page 5 Copyright Page 6 Dedication Page 7 Table of Contents 9 PREFACE 11 Introduction 13 Content 11 The Poet's Self and the Poem 21 1. THE FIGURE OF THE ZADDIK 23 2. INNOVATION AND INSPIRATION: LINKING PAST TO FUTURE 35 3. THE APPROACHING REDEMPTION 38 4. AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ASPECTS 45 Telling Tales; or, The Physics and Metaphysics of Fiction 53 1. THE SANCTIFICATION OF FICTION IN HASIDIC TRADITION 53 2. ADOPTION OF NARRATIVE ELEMENTS FROM OTHER GENRES 62 3. THE TORAH AS TEXT AND ARCHETYPE 68 4. MULTIFARIOUS "TEXTS" AND THEIR SYMBOLIC VALUE 78 The Romantic Drama 87 1. ROMANTICISM: A GENERAL DEFINITION 88 2. THE ROMANTIC QUEST 92 3. THE INDWELLING LIFE OF NATURE 96 4. IN GOD'S IMAGE HE CREATED HER 115 The Dimension of the Fantastic 127 1. A CHARACTERIZATION OF THE FANTASTIC WORLD 134 2. PERCEPTION AND DECEPTION: TRANSMUTATIONS OF REALITY WITHIN THE TALE 162 3. BLURRING OF BOUNDARIES, SHIFTING IDENTITIES 181 5. THE EFFECT OF THE DIMENSION OF THE FANTASTIC ON THE LISTENER/READER 231 Back Matter 237 NOTES 237 BIBLIOGRAPHY 299 INDEX OF SUBJECTS 307 INDEX OF SOURCES 317 Back Cover 324 Excerpt from "Little Gidding" in Four Quartets,copyright © 1943 by T. S. Eliot and renewed 1971 by Esme Valerie Eliot,reprinted by permission of Harcourt Brace & Company and Faber and Faber Ltd.,London. Published by State University of New York Press,Albany © 1998 State University of New York All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval sys.em or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic,electrostatic,magnetic tape,mechanical,photocopying,recording,or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher. For information,address the State University of New York Press,State University Plaza,Albany,NY 12246 Production by Bernadine Dawes • Marketing by Patrick Durocher Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Wiskind-Elper,Ora,1960- Tradition and fantasy in the tales of Reb Nahman of Bratslave / Ora Wiskind-Elper. p. cm. — (SUNY series in Judaica) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-3813-9 (hardcover : alk. paper). — ISBN 0-7914-3814-7 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Na'manof Bratslav,1772-1811. 2. Hasidic parables—History and criticism. I. Title. II. Series. BM532.W57 1998 296.1'9—dc21 97-39254 CIP 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Excerpt from "Little Gidding" in Four Quartets,copyright © 1943 by T. S. Eliot and,renewed 1971 by Esme Valerie Eliot,reprinted by permission of Harcourt Brace & Company,and Faber and Faber Ltd.,London.,Published by,State University of New York Press,Albany,© 1998 State University of New York,All rights reserved,Printed in the United States of America,No part of this book may be used or reproduced,in any manner whatsoever without written permission.,No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval sys.em or,transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic,electrostatic,magnetic tape,mechanical,photocopying,recording,or otherwise without the prior permission in,writing of the publisher.,For information,address the State University of New York Press,State University Plaza,Albany,NY 12246,Production by Bernadine Dawes • Marketing by Patrick Durocher,Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data,Wiskind-Elper,Ora,1960-,Tradition and fantasy in the tales of Reb Nahman of Bratslave / Ora,Wiskind-Elper.,p. cm. — (SUNY series in Judaica),Includes bibliographical references and index.,ISBN 0-7914-3813-9 (hardcover : alk. paper). — ISBN 0-7914-3814-7,(pbk. : alk. paper),1. Na'manof Bratslav,1772-1811. 2. Hasidic parables—History,and criticism. I. Title. II. Series.,BM532.W57 1998,296.1'9—dc21 97-39254,CIP,1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 The Poet's Self And The Poem -- The Figure Of The Zaddik -- Innovation And Inspiration: Linking Past To Future -- The Approaching Redemption -- Autobiographical Aspects -- Telling Tales; Or, The Physics And Metaphysics Of Fiction -- The Sanctification Of Fiction In Hasidic Tradition -- Adoption Of Narrative Elements From Other Genres -- Folktales -- Rabbinic Literature -- The Torah As Text And Archetype -- Multifarious Texts And Their Symbolic Value -- The Romantic Drama -- Romanticism: A General Definition -- The Romantic Quest -- The Indwelling Life Of Nature -- The Garden -- Music -- In God's Image He Created Her -- Metaphors Of Motherhood -- The Shekhinah: From Mourning To Joy -- The Dimension Of The Fantastic -- A Characterization Of The Fantastic World -- The Mythical World And Its Evolution -- Mythopoetic Archetypes -- Between Past And Future: Nostalgia And Expectation -- A Definition Of The Fantastic As A Literary Genre -- Perception And Deception: Transmutations Of Reality Within The Tale -- The Dream Paradigm -- The Tale Entitled The King's Decree -- The Dream Of The Circle In Hayyei Moharan -- The Tale Entitled The Lost Princess And The Song Of Songs -- The Tale Entitled Fly And Spider -- Blurring Of Boundaries, Shifting Identities -- Theological Implications: The Kushiya -- Metamorphosis Of Imagery -- Symbol -- Metaphor -- Allegory -- The Tale Of Heart And Spring -- The Effect Of The Dimension Of The Fantastic On The Listener/reader. Ora Wiskind-elper. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 287-293) And Indexes. Annotation One of the most radically innovative of Hasidic masters, Reb Nahman of Bratslav transformed images and concepts basic to Jewish thought into new and compelling forms. Tradition and Fantasy in the Tales of Reb Nahman of Bratslav uses comparative literary criticism, a range of Hasidic commentary, and original exegesis of the source texts to bring the complex artistry of Reb Nahman's thought to light making it accessible to a wider audience