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Questions and Answers
Which novel is often cited as an early influence on postmodernism?
Which novel is often cited as an early influence on postmodernism?
Which playwright is associated with the development of 'Pataphysics?
Which playwright is associated with the development of 'Pataphysics?
What was a characteristic of Dadaist poetry, according to Tristan Tzara?
What was a characteristic of Dadaist poetry, according to Tristan Tzara?
What was a development of Dadaism that influenced postmodern literature?
What was a development of Dadaism that influenced postmodern literature?
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Which movement developed from Dadaism and continued experimentations with chance and parody?
Which movement developed from Dadaism and continued experimentations with chance and parody?
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Which author is known for his playful experiments with signification?
Which author is known for his playful experiments with signification?
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What was a characteristic of 19th century literature that influenced postmodernism?
What was a characteristic of 19th century literature that influenced postmodernism?
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Which Swedish dramatist's work would serve as an influence on the aesthetic of postmodernism?
Which Swedish dramatist's work would serve as an influence on the aesthetic of postmodernism?
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What is the title of Tim O'Brien's novel/story collection about the Vietnam War?
What is the title of Tim O'Brien's novel/story collection about the Vietnam War?
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What is the term used to describe a type of metafiction that challenges traditional notions of literature?
What is the term used to describe a type of metafiction that challenges traditional notions of literature?
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Who coined the term 'fabulation'?
Who coined the term 'fabulation'?
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What is the title of Salman Rushdie's book that is an example of fabulation?
What is the title of Salman Rushdie's book that is an example of fabulation?
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What is the term used to describe a specific type of metafiction that is about the process of creation?
What is the term used to describe a specific type of metafiction that is about the process of creation?
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Who coined the term 'poioumenon'?
Who coined the term 'poioumenon'?
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What is the title of Thomas Carlyle's book that is an example of poioumenon?
What is the title of Thomas Carlyle's book that is an example of poioumenon?
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What is the title of Laurence Sterne's book that is an example of poioumenon?
What is the title of Laurence Sterne's book that is an example of poioumenon?
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What is the key difference between modernist and postmodernist works in terms of playfulness?
What is the key difference between modernist and postmodernist works in terms of playfulness?
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What event is sometimes used as a rough boundary for the start of postmodernism?
What event is sometimes used as a rough boundary for the start of postmodernism?
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What does the prefix 'post' in postmodernism imply?
What does the prefix 'post' in postmodernism imply?
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What event is cited as a significant post-war event that contributed to the rise of postmodernism?
What event is cited as a significant post-war event that contributed to the rise of postmodernism?
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What is a literary event that some mark as the beginning of postmodernism?
What is a literary event that some mark as the beginning of postmodernism?
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What is a characteristic of postmodern literature that distinguishes it from modernist literature?
What is a characteristic of postmodern literature that distinguishes it from modernist literature?
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What is a literary movement that emerged in response to significant post-war events?
What is a literary movement that emerged in response to significant post-war events?
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What is a critical theory event that some mark as the beginning of postmodernism?
What is a critical theory event that some mark as the beginning of postmodernism?
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What is the primary concern of postmodernism, according to Brian McHale's thesis?
What is the primary concern of postmodernism, according to Brian McHale's thesis?
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Which of the following literary movements is characterized by an epistemological dominant?
Which of the following literary movements is characterized by an epistemological dominant?
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Which playwright is credited with coining the term 'Theatre of the Absurd'?
Which playwright is credited with coining the term 'Theatre of the Absurd'?
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What is the primary characteristic of the plays of the Theatre of the Absurd?
What is the primary characteristic of the plays of the Theatre of the Absurd?
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Which author is often seen as marking the shift from modernism to postmodernism in literature?
Which author is often seen as marking the shift from modernism to postmodernism in literature?
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What was the primary influence of Samuel Beckett's work on the development of literature?
What was the primary influence of Samuel Beckett's work on the development of literature?
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What was the primary reason for Samuel Beckett's shift away from modernism?
What was the primary reason for Samuel Beckett's shift away from modernism?
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Which of the following authors is NOT associated with the postmodern aesthetic?
Which of the following authors is NOT associated with the postmodern aesthetic?
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What is the characteristic of the novels of authors like Dave Eggers?
What is the characteristic of the novels of authors like Dave Eggers?
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What is the purpose of the novel according to the postmodern position?
What is the purpose of the novel according to the postmodern position?
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What is the characteristic of the characters in minimalist stories and novels?
What is the characteristic of the characters in minimalist stories and novels?
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What is the role of the reader in minimalist literature?
What is the role of the reader in minimalist literature?
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What is the opposite of maximalism in literature?
What is the opposite of maximalism in literature?
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Which author is commonly associated with literary minimalism?
Which author is commonly associated with literary minimalism?
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What is the characteristic of the short stories in minimalist literature?
What is the characteristic of the short stories in minimalist literature?
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What is the criticism of maximalist novels by modernist critics?
What is the criticism of maximalist novels by modernist critics?
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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.
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Description
Explore the early literary influences on postmodernist writers, including Don Quixote, Candide, and other notable works. Discover how these influences shaped postmodernist thought.
