Evans, Michael John (1978) A poetics of Claude Simon's novels : from 'La route des Flandres' to 'Leçon de choses'. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

This thesis examines Claude Simon's later novels in the light of four concepts which form part of the discourse of a poetics of modern fictional writing. The study is split into four parts, each of chick is introduced by a short theoretical section.
Part I, "irame", analyzes the subversion of narrative framework in La Route des Flandres, le Palace, and histoire, with particular reference to phenomena such as "dédoublement" of narratorial identity, unexplained spatio-temporal shifts, and "éclats de narration". Borrowed from the Russian Formalists, the concept of "frame" deals with the problem oi "point of view". The discussion shows that the three novels possess no stable "point fixe" from which an ordered reading can be constructed. Far from ignoring this "deficiency", Simon's novels are shown to be constantly highlighting it and underlining problems of perspective in general.
Part II, "Intertextuality", discusses the function of the intertextual fragments in la Bataille de Pharsale. The analysis follows on from the one in the previous section in that these fragments are seen to under­mine the narrative framework. A new type oi "intertextual reading" is also sketched, based on the special triptych relationship between this novel, la Jalousie and A la recherché du temps perdu.
Part III, "Materiality", takes close look at Jean Ricardou's "materialist criticism" and concentrates on an analytic description of the process of reading a modern fictional text such as les Corps conducteurs. The concept of "isotopy" is seen to be useful in discerning certain textual phenomena such as "description blocks" and instances of "descriptive confusion”.
Part IV, "Self-Reflexivity", examines tie important role played by metatextual. and fictional " “mise en abyme" in the contradictory pattern of intersequential conflict in Triptyque and leçon de choses.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	P Language and Literature > PQ Romance literatures
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Experimental fiction, French -- History and criticism, French literature -- 20th century, Simon, Claude, 1917- -- Criticism and interpretation, Simon, Claude. Route des Flandres, Simon, Claude. Leçon de choses
Official Date:	September 1978
Dates:	Date Event September 1978 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of French Studies
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Huss, Roger
Extent:	xii, 308 leaves
Language:	eng

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