Dostoevsky's Polyphonic Talent
Published on 28. January 2005
Book
Hardback
270 pages
978-0-7618-3097-9 (ISBN)
Description
This book illuminates the connectedness of Dostoevsky's literary art with his philosophical and psychological brilliance. Two Fyodor Dostoevsky conferences originating at the University of North Texas set the stage for this volume. Scholars contributed original papers focusing on how Dostoevsky's literary art and philosophical insights enrich one another. Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote and thought polyphonically. His polyphonic method is both his special literary technique and his distinctive way of probing theological, social, and philosophical depths. As Bakhtin and Terras suggest, all Dostoevsky's major literary inventions-from the underground man to the vitriolic Grushenka-are products of his ability to listen profoundly to his own characters. Like the genius author-redactor of 1 and 2 Samuel, he reports the heights and depths of human emotion and behavior, whether exploring the anatomy of dysfunctional families, making the heart soar with Zosima's vision of forgiveness, or giving Ivan Karamazov full rein to challenge theism. Dostoevsky's characters transform themselves into irregular verbs whose fierce independence emerges only because of their desperate and inescapable interdependence. His major characters are text, subtext, and context for each other. They play inside each other's head and answer in one way or another.
Reviews / Votes
This collection provides some thought-provoking insights, particularly on the religious dimension of Dosteovsky's fiction. -- Julian W. Connolly, University of Virginia * Slavic and East European Journal *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Lanham, MD
United States
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 135 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
449 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7618-3097-9 (9780761830979)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Joe E. Barnhart is Professor of Philosophy and Religion Studies at the University of North Texas. Professor Barnhart holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Boston University. He is the author of journal articles and papers on Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Karl Popper, and biblical criticism.
Content
Chapter 1 Preface and Acknowledgments Chapter 2 Introduction: Hearing Voices: Joe Barnhart, Editor Chapter 3 Rival Ideologies: Dostoevsky on Evil as a Perversion of Personhood: A Reading of Ivan Karamazov and the Grand Inquisitor: Ralph C. Wood Chapter 4 Still Too High a Price? Ivan's Question in the Light of Contemporary Theodicy: Dan R. Stiver Chapter 5 Encountering the Incarnate Subject: Dostoevsky's Fiction as an Embodiment of and Contribution to Orthodox Theology: Aaron Taylor Chapter 6 Dostoevsky and the Historical Christ: Joe Barnhart Chapter 7 Dostoevsky and Alienation: Linda Kraeger Chapter 8 Family Voices in Conflict: The Karamazovs-A Paradigm in Dysfunctionality: Ignat Avsey Chapter 9 Son and Fathers: The Character of Dominant Ideas and the Ideas of Dominant Characters in a Raw Youth: Joseph D. Stamey Chapter 10 Contracts with Fate: Dostoevsky's Characters: Joe Barnhart Chapter 11 The Village of Stepanchikovo or "There's a man with No Clothes On!": Ignat Avsey Chapter 12 Going Underground: Fyodor Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground: Victor Terras Chapter 13 Schelling, Dostoevsky, and Chernychevsky: Egoism, Freedom, and Madness in Notes from Underground: James M. McLachlan Chapter 14 The Literary Artist's Fantastic Realism: The French and the Russian Underground Man: Dostoevsky and Montherlant: Victor Terras Chapter 15 "Living at Double Intensity": Dialogized Consciousness, the Question of Satire, and the Ethics of Representation in Dostoevsky's Poor Folk: Stephen Souris Chapter 16 The Translator's Tale in the Bible and Dostoevskyland: Ignat Avsey Chapter 17 Brief Biographies of the Authors