Literary Conventions Research Articles

“To telle yow [. . .] whiche they weren, and of what degree”: Direct Characterization across the Centuries

abstract: This contribution studies how characterization—the way in which characters are presented to readers—has changed between the Late Middle English period and the twenty-first century. Investigating a small sample of texts from four different periods, I compare the type of information that is provided about the protagonists of the texts when they are first introduced to the reader. The study is situated within the field of pragmatics of fiction and it presents a method with which characterization can be compared systematically across different texts, even diachronically. The results of the study show that there have been marked changes over time with respect to which categories of character information are mentioned explicitly, but also about how certain categories are used. These shifts reflect socio-cultural changes, for instance with respect to the role of the family for individual identity. The results demonstrate that studying characterization diachronically can reveal insight about the links between linguistic style, literary conventions, and broader social and cultural developments that shape literary texts.

Stylistic techniques to generate humor: an analysis of humorous instructive examples cited in the Gardens of Magic

Abstract This article scrutinizes the utilization of stylistic devices for the generation of humor in literature, with a particular focus on Ḥadāʾiq al-Siḥr fī Daqāʾiq al-Shiʿr (Gardens of Magic in the Minutiae of Poetry), authored by Rashīd al-Dīn Waṭwaṭ (d. 1182). Functioning as a comprehensive guide to figures of speech and literary eloquence, Ḥadāʾiq al-Siḥr employs examples from both Arabic and Persian literature to elucidate its principles. While primarily devoted to panegyrics, Ḥadāʾiq al-Siḥr does not disregard humor, employing humorous samples to clarify the subtleties of this genre. Waṭwaṭ, adhering to the medieval pedagogical tradition, furnishes concise explanations coupled with multiple illustrations, demanding an in-depth analysis of instructive examples to unveil their intricacies. Employing the script-based theory of analyzing humor, this study scrutinizes humorous instances within Ḥadāʾiq al-Siḥr, providing insights into Waṭwaṭ’s approach to comedic elements in literature. Beyond this, the article explores the foundational aspects of humor creation within the medieval literary conventions of Persian and Arabic, thereby contributing to a nuanced comprehension of this literary genre.

Reimagining Shakespeare’s Women: A Meta-Drama Study of Joy McCullough’s Enter the Body

ABSTRACT Drawing on Jean-François Lyotard’s characterisation of postmodernism as incredulity towards meta-narratives, Lionel Abel’s definition of meta-plays, and David Higbee Williams’ perspective on metadrama, this paper examines the postmodern reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s tragic heroines in Joy McCullough’s novel, Enter the Body. The article analyses how McCullough challenges the dominant male perspective in Shakespeare’s plays by giving voice to marginalised female characters. The study explores McCullough’s use of metadrama conventions, allowing Juliet, Ophelia, Cordelia, and Lavinia to consciously discuss and analyse their stories from the original Shakespearean plays. We argue that this narrative awareness empowers these women to disrupt traditional roles and challenge patriarchal constructions in the Shakespearean canon. Integrating feminist theory with postmodern discourse, this analysis reveals how McCullough subverts traditional literary conventions through self-reflexive commentary and intertextual references. Her narrative strategies reframe Shakespeare’s canonical portrayals, empowering marginalised voices and challenging historical gender roles, thereby inviting readers to envision transformative interpretations.

Haunting the In-between: Gender and Genre in Oscar Wilde’s “The Canterville Ghost”

This article explores the interplay between gender and genre in Oscar Wilde’s “The Canterville Ghost”. Applying frameworks from short story theory and criticism, it deepens and expands Maureen O’Connor’s claim that Wilde employs “dissident” narrative conventions to expose and subvert patriarchal discourse and Anne Markey’s conceptualization of this text as a polyphonic narrative space. To do so, the article begins by examining key plot moments to illustrate the “poetics of liminality” (Achilles and Bergmann 2015: 4) of this ghost story, which parodies and subverts various genre conventions to “amuse and disturb” its readers (Markey 2010: 136) before transforming into a horrifying exposé of the role of literary conventions in the normalization of gender violence (O’Connor 2004). It further explores the story’s reception in cinematic adaptations and academic criticism, revealing how comedic and sentimental genre conventions have often been heightened to obscure its darker, gendered themes. Finally, it focuses on the “condensation of multiple identities” (Achilles: 2015b) in the character of Virginia Otis, which complicates any straightforward reading of “The Canterville Ghost” as radical or reactive in terms of its gender politics. These discussions showcase Wilde’s mastery of the short story genre’s interrogative economy to challenge established literary conventions.

SEMIOTIC ANALYSIS ON THE VERSES OF ANAK DIONG SONG BY FELIX EDON

This research delves into the semiotic analysis of Felix Edon's song Anak Diong, examining its meaning through heuristic and hermeneutic readings. It underscores the centrality of communication in human interaction and the diverse mediums, with music serving as a universal language to express sentiments and to convey messages. Specifically focusing on Manggaraian culture, the text elucidates how music, including the addition of Manggaraigo’et (proverbs), reflects deep-rooted values and philosophies. The methodology involves qualitative analysis of the song lyrics, drawing from both primary data, obtained from interviews and literature studies, and secondary data from relevant sources. Through heuristic reading, the verses are dissected linguistically, revealing layers of meaning and emotional resonances. A hermeneutic reading then delves deeper into the contextual and symbolic significance, offering interpretations based upon literary conventions and cultural insights. The song Anak Diong emerges as a poignant narrative of an abandoned child grappling with identity and longing for parental love. It transcends individual experiences to underscore broader societal issues, urging responsible parenthood and resilience in adversity. The Manggarai language and cultural references imbue the lyrics with profound meaning, resonating with audiences beyond linguistic and cultural boundaries. Ultimately, the text underscores the transformative power of music to convey profound messages and evoke empathy, making Anak Diong a poignant reflection of human experiences and values.

Responding to wetiko Crime: Understanding Harold Johnson's Backtrack through the Indigenous Literary Analysis Model (ILAM)

Cree author Harold Johnson's crime novel Backtrack draws on Cree oral traditions and Cree legal traditions to create a contemporary story about the wetiko, a human transformed into a cannibal monster who murders people, and the Cree laws and legal processes that are used to respond to wetiko crimes. The Indigenous Literary Analysis Model (ILAM) is a method developed for critically analysing Indigenous literatures. Through ILAM, analysis of Backtrack identifies that while this novel demonstrates some continuity with Canadian crime fiction genre conventions, it also challenges and rewrites those conventions. Ultimately, Backtrack can be understood as a cultural knowledge text that incorporates elements of Western literary conventions while remaining firmly within the Indigenous literary canon.

The Syntax of Resistance: The Use of Language and Genre to Assert Indigenous Identity and Inclusion in Australian Literature

This paper will explore the use of language as a form of resistance among the indigenous writers of Australia. My plan is to examine how altering English syntax and modifying the conventions of narrative genre create layers of resistance to literary conventions to assert indigenous identity and belonging. Syntax is a path of disclosure that reaches deep into the matrix of indigenous literature and, just as paganism embraces a spirituality free of dogma, this body of literature pursues a voice, a syntax free of the language structures of the Invader. Paradoxically, indigenous writers seek a language independent of colonial influences, while knowing this may not be possible, except through the reanimation of the Dreamtime, that primordial state of the beginning.

Life Story and Literary Interpretation. Atanas Dalchev’s Work in Literature Textbooks for Secondary Education

The paper focuses on the complicated inclusion of Atanas Dalchev’s work in the list of studied authors in Bulgarian secondary education after 1944. Although he had the reputation of one of the most significant Bulgarian poets, his influence on the younger generations was defined as negative by the socialist realists. Dalchev’s poetic principles maintained the distance between “reality” and literary convention, between author and Lyrical Self, which, however, confronted the Socialist realists’ idea about the social character of literature. This was one of the reasons why the poet’s work was left out of the school canon until 1980s and on its turn provoked a number of critical strategies that aimed to rehabilitate the author by including his works in the literary-historical process and by legitimizing his aesthetic system. The main object of the paper is the reception of Atanas Dalchev during Socialism, but at the end some trends in the textbooks published after 1989 are also noted.

Challenging The Dichotomy Of Self and Other: A Critical Study Of Colorism in Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye and Its Societal Implications

Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye is a powerful novel that discuss the issue of colorism and its impact on self-identity and societal norms. This critical study sheds light on the interplay of self and otherness in the narrative, also the dichotomy of lightness and darkness that characterizes colorism. The study analyzes the experiences of the characters, including the protagonist Pecola, and their interactions with each other and their environments. Through a critical examination of the novel, the study reveals how colorism perpetuates systemic inequality and affects individuals' mental health and well-being. It argues that colorism is not only a personal issue but also a societal problem that needs to be addressed. By exploring the societal implications of colorism, the study seeks to challenge societal norms and values regarding skin color and promote diversity and inclusivity. The significance in Morrison's work in exposing and challenging colorism. It highlights how Morrison's prose illuminates the complex of self-identity, the other, and colorism in society. The study also argues that The Bluest Eye is particularly relevant in contemporary times, given the resurgence of racial tensions and the urgent need to promote social justice and equality. Moreover, the study examines the ways in which Morrison challenges traditional literary conventions and constructs new forms of narrative and representation. The study confirms on Morrison's contribution to American literature and her influence on contemporary writers and scholars. Overall, this critical study elucidates the insidious effects of colorism on individuals and society as well as the importance of the dicho-tomy of the self and otherness to promote a more just and equitable world. It highlights the enduring relevance and power of Morrison's work in addressing these pressing issues.

The Thought-Scene: A Literary Convention of Hebrew Narrative

There is an unidentified literary convention within narratives of the Hebrew Bible, wherein the narrator portrays the thought process of certain characters. In these episodes, which I coin “thought-scenes,” characters express the motivating reasons for a past, current, or upcoming action. That is, they explain “why” an action, decision, or request is being undertaken. These passages constitute distinctive instances of human reasoning and offer insight into how rationality was viewed in the ancient world, as well as how forms of argumentation were fashioned within biblical literature. I examine the reasoning process of Abraham (Gen 12:10-20) and Joseph (Gen 39:7-10) in detail and supply a full, annotated catalogue of thought-scenes in Genesis, along with representative examples from across the Hebrew Bible.

Vedligeholdelsespoetik og patriarkalske fortælleformer

“Maintenance Poetics and Patriarchal Narrative Forms: Literary Strategies for Making Housework Visible in the 1970s in Marianne Larsen and Ursula K. Le Guin” The article examines the narration of housework in the 1970s through an analysis of two literary works from the period. It argues that these works employ classical heroic and patriarchal narrative forms as literary analogies for housework.Further, the article demonstrates that this seemingly non-feminist literary strategy reveals how certain feminized experiences such as maintenance work resist representation within established literary conventions, in the 1970s as well as today.

Creating the Effect of Particularized Character: Type as Tool in the Eighteenth-Century English Novel

This article considers the question of why characters seem particularized and arguably more realistic within the eighteenth-century English novel, especially given recent work by scholars insisting on the recognition of traditional literary conventions like allegory and romance as much more strongly present than previously thought in characters and novels sometimes labelled realist. It shows how some eighteenth-century authors, such as Frances Burney (1752–1840), mobilize one kind of convention, typically understood as literary precedent, within novel narratives as a part of how they particularize their protagonists, and it makes a case for further examination of how conventional and particular elements interact to form character in the eighteenth-century novel.

The Portrayal of Disability and the Quest for Identity in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire

This paper examines George R.R. Martin’s series of epic fantasy sagas, A Song of Ice and Fire (hereinafter indicated as Ice and Fire). The books are A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, A Dance with Dragons, The Winds of Winter, and A Dream of Spring. The paper aims to investigate the depictions of ethical, cultural, and social issues of disabled characters by redefining their cognitive capabilities and physiques in different cultural contexts that represent various literary conventions. Henceforth, the paper explores the disabled characters’ quest for identity and the ways in which Martin has thoroughly modified and recreated their image. The stereotype is that people with either physical or cognitive inferiority are emasculated or impotent, that having a disability is a sign of heavenly retribution, and that people with disabilities are outrageous or monstrous. These cultural fantasies all shaped the marginalisation of their identity. Therefore, the attention in this paper is paid explicitly to investigate how Martin’s characters are portrayed, exposed, suffered, and excluded by their ‘abled’ society. In addition, the emphasis is on how these characters have survived and reacted to the typical image set by the dominant society despite their diverse impairments. However, considering the popularity of Martin’s sagas and the fact that characters’ choices for their disabilities can scarcely be episodic, this paper endeavours to reverse the negative attitudes of society and build positive attitudes towards these individuals.

The Brontë Sisters and the Critical Realism of English Literature

This article explores the distinctive critical realism in the works of the Brontë sisters—Charlotte, Emily, and Anne—highlighting their significant influence on English literature. Through an examination of major novels like Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, the article demonstrates how the Brontës combined unflinching depictions of social and psychological realities with moral critique, challenging literary conventions of their time. Their exploration of gender, class, and identity, particularly the complex portrayals of female autonomy and class struggles, marked a departure from the romanticized ideals of the Victorian era. Additionally, the Brontës’ innovative narrative techniques, such as unreliable narrators and non-linear structures, transformed the novel form, paving the way for modernist experimentation and feminist literary movements. By engaging with the intellectual currents of the 19th century, the Brontës crafted works that continue to resonate across generations, shaping both literary criticism and broader cultural discourses. Their legacy, defined by a commitment to social critique and emotional depth, underscores the enduring relevance of their critical realism in the ongoing evolution of literature.

Emancipation through Modern Poetics: History, Politics, and Aesthetics in Muriel Rukeyser’s The Book of the Dead

The Book of the Dead by Muriel Rukeyser represents a collection of poetry riddled with a history of “relative neglect and obscurity.”1 For this reason, discourses surrounding the docupoetic collection often grapple with the ambition required when approaching a complex work addressing temporal tragedy. To contribute to this discourse, the literary research in this paper traverses an intersection with three primary angles: the political, the aesthetic, and the emancipatory. The analysis centers on The Book of the Dead and the modernist poetry that the author of the collection utilizes when portraying a uniquely chilling perspective of one of the most catastrophic industrial disasters in United States history. Understanding the poetry from Rukeyser, however, faces several obstacles given the rejection of literary convention within each stanza. This paper therefore provides necessary historical, sociological, and aesthetic background to contextualize the important discussions on literature and culture that are underscored within The Book of the Dead. Ultimately, the research contends that Rukeyser’s work not only calls for emancipation for the dead, but also the freeing of readers from literary convention in order to confront a tragedy much of society would rather leave behind in history.

Transnational Discourses of Masculinity and Desire in Les Cenelles , an Afro-Creole Anthology of Romantic Poetry in French

This article contextualizes Les Cenelles and its poets of French expression in the shifting historical landscape of mid-nineteenth-century New Orleans, examining the formative roles of gender-segregated Catholic education, patriarchal order, and racial discourses in the first known African American literary anthology. The author then provides close feminist readings of the anthology’s figurations of masculine desire in the cultural context of plaçage – diverse formations of extra-legal liaisons between Creole women of colour and white lovers or ‘protectors’. Through this detour, the poets ultimately express their layered spatialized desire for another mother – la mère France . The Catholic fraternity constituted in and through the poetic anthology as a communal literary object thus contests overlapping American socio-economic formations operating to the exclusion and oppression of its authors. It actualizes collective contention not only through textual performances of masculine rage and mourning, but also through transatlantic affiliation with French Romantic literary conventions and canon.

Kui keha kõneleb. Margit Lõhmuse „Sterne” kui vastuhakk normile

When the body speaks. Margit Lõhmus’ Sterne as a challenge to the norm Keywords: feminism, transgressive literature, women’s writing, prose, queer literature Margit Lõhmus’ book Sterne has received attention for its portrayal of the female body and sexuality, which are presented in a hyperbolic and sometimes caricatured way, departing from conventional norms. This allows the book to be placed within the context of queer literature, understood here as literature that challenges norms. In Sterne, gender identity often does not conform to the expectations of heteronormativity, and gender is not simply divided into male and female. Queerness is also evident in the unexpected sources of pleasure, the characters’ appearances, and the depiction of bodies and relationships. Lõhmus intentionally employs obscene language, focusing on women’s bodily experiences and perspectives on the body and sexuality. Sexual encounters are frequently described as empty or disturbing, while a sense of wholeness is found in solitude. Sex with men is often depicted as alienating. In Sterne, the body is presented outside traditional heteronormative frameworks, with sexual pleasure and arousal occurring in non-sexual situations. Humour plays a significant role, especially through surprising metaphors and self-irony. The book’s transgressive nature is also reflected in its form, as Sterne employs colloquial language to ensure the authenticity of the characters and convey their personal worldview. In some stories, Lõhmus’ style mimics online communication, omitting punctuation and using lowercase letters to emphasize linguistic freedom and the contrast between imagination and reality. The book shifts between seriousness, irony, and grotesque scenes, challenging traditional gender roles and literary conventions. Through this, Lõhmus introduces into Estonian literature a queer work where gender is non-binary, and sexuality is freed from heteronormative constraints.

Rewriting Patriarchy: A Feminist Reading of Grace Paley's “A Conversation with My Father”

This paper undertakes a feminist reading of Grace Paley’s “A Conversation with My Father”, positioning her work within the discourse of feminist theory as articulated by Hélène Cixous and Luce Irigaray. Engaging with the notion of “feminine writing” and the patriarchal underpinnings of language, this analysis reveals how Paley’s narrative techniques challenge fixed literary conventions and resist the rigidity of traditional storytelling. Through a fragmented and open-ended narrative structure, Paley subtly critiques her father’s demand for a typological and linear story, a preference that reflects the normative expectations of patriarchal literature. By foregrounding the body and privileging multiplicity, Paley echoes Cixous’ and Irigaray’s call for a new mode of representation, one that transcends the limits imposed by phallogocentric discourse. This paper explores how “A Conversation with My Father” serves as both an artistic and theoretical counterpoint to the masculine literary canon, advocating for a narrative form that embodies the fluidity, change, and diversity intrinsic to the feminine experience. In doing so, Paley’s work affirms the necessity of alternative voices in literature, voices that challenge the essentialist representations perpetuated by patriarchal modes of thinking.

The displaced relationship between original and translated literature: a polysystem view of Nobel Literature Prize norms

ABSTRACT This study analyzes the Nobel Literature Prize award speeches from 2000 to 2023 from the perspective of polysystem studies and the framework of translational norms. Using a combination of corpus-based methods and qualitative coding analysis, it compares, describes, and interprets the discourse features and underlying norms of these speeches. It was found that the awarding institution emphasizes literary works that explore the marginalized or peripheral aspects of society, although its evaluations of original and translated literature exhibit subtle differences. The institution tends to favor niche authors from the Western original literary system, underscoring their works’ universal appeal while highlighting translated works that conform to Western literary conventions. Such a focus suggests that the Westernization of world literature helps reinforce the dominance of the Western literary paradigm. Furthermore, the current analysis indicates that translated literature included in the Nobel system often retains marginal status as perceived by the awarding body, serving primarily as a vehicle for introducing non-Western voices while still centering Western perspectives. The role of translations, while crucial in bridging diverse literary characteristics, is often overlooked, as evidenced by award speeches. They implicitly maintain the centrality of Western perspectives when presenting literature from non-Western contexts.

Authority from the Back of Beyond: Cosmic Travel as a Rhetorical Strategy across the Myth of Er, the Book of the Watchers, and the Dream of Scipio

Ancient Near Eastern and Mediterranean cosmologies shared general assumptions about the interconnectivity of heaven and earth. Plato’s Myth of Er, the Book of the Watchers in 1 Enoch, and Cicero’s Dream of Scipio, narrate the travels of Er, Enoch, and Scipio, respectively, into the Beyond, where they each learn astonishing things about the cosmos, and are tasked with imparting a message to humanity. This comparative study argues that cosmic travel is an integral means of constructing a rhetoric of authority designed to recruit its audiences to its socio-political vision. By analysing literary conventions like pseudepigraphy and epiphany in the features that make up cosmic travel, we better understand how each story bridges the gap between the narrated (story) world and the external (real) world. The ability to blend the realities of a story and its audiences stems from the ways in which tropes of legitimacy render spatio-temporal reality malleable, but is also imperative to the very authority these tropes offer. Without arguing for deliberate intertextuality between all these sources, this study compares the use of heavenly voyages as a literary device for legitimising worldview across cultures, times, and places.