40 Questions
Which novel is often cited as an early influence on postmodernism?
The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman
Which playwright is associated with the development of 'Pataphysics?
Alfred Jarry
What was a characteristic of Dadaist poetry, according to Tristan Tzara?
Putting random words in a hat and pulling them out one by one
What was a development of Dadaism that influenced postmodern literature?
The development of collage, specifically collages using elements from advertisement or illustrations from popular novels
Which movement developed from Dadaism and continued experimentations with chance and parody?
Surrealism
Which author is known for his playful experiments with signification?
Lewis Carroll
What was a characteristic of 19th century literature that influenced postmodernism?
Attacks on Enlightenment concepts, parody, and playfulness
Which Swedish dramatist's work would serve as an influence on the aesthetic of postmodernism?
August Strindberg
What is the title of Tim O'Brien's novel/story collection about the Vietnam War?
The Things They Carried
What is the term used to describe a type of metafiction that challenges traditional notions of literature?
Fabulation
Who coined the term 'fabulation'?
Robert Scholes
What is the title of Salman Rushdie's book that is an example of fabulation?
Haroun and the Sea of Stories
What is the term used to describe a specific type of metafiction that is about the process of creation?
Poioumenon
Who coined the term 'poioumenon'?
Alastair Fowler
What is the title of Thomas Carlyle's book that is an example of poioumenon?
Sartor Resartus
What is the title of Laurence Sterne's book that is an example of poioumenon?
Tristram Shandy
What is the key difference between modernist and postmodernist works in terms of playfulness?
Playfulness is present in both modernist and postmodernist works, but is more central in postmodernism.
What event is sometimes used as a rough boundary for the start of postmodernism?
The death of Virginia Woolf and James Joyce in 1941.
What does the prefix 'post' in postmodernism imply?
A reaction against modernism.
What event is cited as a significant post-war event that contributed to the rise of postmodernism?
All of the above.
What is a literary event that some mark as the beginning of postmodernism?
The first publication of John Hawkes' The Cannibal in 1949.
What is a characteristic of postmodern literature that distinguishes it from modernist literature?
A tendency to make the achievement of order and meaning unlikely.
What is a literary movement that emerged in response to significant post-war events?
All of the above.
What is a critical theory event that some mark as the beginning of postmodernism?
Jacques Derrida's 'Structure, Sign, and Play' lecture in 1966.
What is the primary concern of postmodernism, according to Brian McHale's thesis?
Questions of ontology
Which of the following literary movements is characterized by an epistemological dominant?
Modernism
Which playwright is credited with coining the term 'Theatre of the Absurd'?
Martin Esslin
What is the primary characteristic of the plays of the Theatre of the Absurd?
Series of clichés taken from a language textbook
Which author is often seen as marking the shift from modernism to postmodernism in literature?
Samuel Beckett
What was the primary influence of Samuel Beckett's work on the development of literature?
Focus on the poverty of language and man as a failure
What was the primary reason for Samuel Beckett's shift away from modernism?
Desire to escape the shadow of James Joyce
Which of the following authors is NOT associated with the postmodern aesthetic?
James Joyce
What is the characteristic of the novels of authors like Dave Eggers?
Sprawling canvas and fragmented narrative
What is the purpose of the novel according to the postmodern position?
The style of the novel must be appropriate to what it depicts and represents
What is the characteristic of the characters in minimalist stories and novels?
They are unexceptional and ordinary
What is the role of the reader in minimalist literature?
To actively engage with the story and create their own meaning
What is the opposite of maximalism in literature?
Minimalism
Which author is commonly associated with literary minimalism?
Samuel Beckett
What is the characteristic of the short stories in minimalist literature?
They are 'slice of life' stories
What is the criticism of maximalist novels by modernist critics?
They are disorganized, sterile, and empty of value
Study Notes
Postmodernist Writers and Influences
- Postmodernist writers draw inspiration from early novels and story collections, such as Don Quixote, 1001 Arabian Nights, and Candide.
- Laurence Sterne's The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1759) is cited as an early influence on postmodernism.
- Other influences include Lord Byron's satire, Thomas Carlyle's Sartor Resartus, Alfred Jarry's Ubu parodies, Lewis Carroll's playful experiments with signification, and the work of Isidore Ducasse, Arthur Rimbaud, and Oscar Wilde.
Dadaism and Surrealism
- Dadaism celebrated chance, parody, playfulness, and attacked the central role of the artist.
- Tristan Tzara's "How to Make a Dadaist Poem" suggested creating a poem by randomly selecting words from a hat.
- Dadaism influenced postmodern literature through the development of collage, using elements from advertisements or popular novels.
- Surrealism continued experimentations with chance and parody while celebrating the flow of the subconscious mind.
Shift to Postmodernism
- The prefix "post" implies a reaction against modernism in the wake of World War II, the Cold War, and significant post-war events.
- Postmodernism's start is marked by significant publications or literary events, such as the publication of John Hawkes' The Cannibal (1949) or the first performance of Waiting for Godot (1953).
Post-War Developments and Transition Figures
- Post-war developments in literature, such as the Theatre of the Absurd, the Beat Generation, and Magic Realism, share similarities with postmodernism.
- Key figures contributing to the postmodern aesthetic include Samuel Beckett, William S. Burroughs, Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortázar, and Gabriel García Márquez.
Fabulation and Metafiction
- Fabulation is a term used interchangeably with metafiction, rejecting realism and embracing the notion that literature is a created work.
- Examples of fabulation include Salman Rushdie's Haroun and the Sea of Stories.
- Poioumena, coined by Alastair Fowler, refers to a specific type of metafiction that explores the boundaries of fiction and reality.
Maximalism and Minimalism
- Maximalism, characterized by sprawling canopies and fragmented narratives, has generated controversy on the "purpose" of a novel.
- Examples of maximalism include Dave Eggers' work, which has been criticized for being disorganized and sterile.
- Minimalism, the opposite of maximalism, focuses on surface description and requires the reader to take an active role in creating the story.
- Examples of minimalism include the work of Samuel Beckett, characterized by economy with words and a focus on the most basic and necessary pieces.
Explore the early literary influences on postmodernist writers, including Don Quixote, Candide, and other notable works. Discover how these influences shaped postmodernist thought.
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