Fantasy and Mimesis (Routledge Revivals)
Responses to Reality in Western Literature
1st Edition
Published on 1. August 2014
232 pages
978-1-317-63853-7 (ISBN)
Description
Since Plato and Aristotle's declaration of the essence of literature as imitation, western narrative has been traditionally discussed in mimetic terms. Marginalized fantasy- the deliberate from reality - has become the hidden face of fiction, identified by most critics as a minor genre. First published in 1984, this book rejects generic definitions of fantasy, arguing that it is not a separate or even separable strain in literary practice, but rather an impulse as significant as that of mimesis. Together, fantasy and mimesis are the twin impulses behind literary creation. In an analysis that ranges from the Icelandic sagas to science fiction, from Malory to pulp romance, Kathryn Hume systematically examines the various ways in which fantasy and mimesis contribute to literary representations of reality.
A detailed and comprehensive title, this reissue will be of particular value to undergraduate literature students with an interest in literary genres and the centrality of literature to the creative imagination.
A detailed and comprehensive title, this reissue will be of particular value to undergraduate literature students with an interest in literary genres and the centrality of literature to the creative imagination.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
File size
4,77 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-317-63853-7 (9781317638537)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
12/2015
1st Edition
Routledge
€70.90
Shipment within 10-20 days
Book
06/2014
1st Edition
Routledge
€248.60
Shipment within 10-20 days
Person
Hume, Kathryn
Content
Acknowledgements; Preface; Part I: Literature and the representation of reality: a new approach to fantasy and mimesis Introduction 1. Critical approaches to fantasy 2. Historical perspectives on fantasy and realism; Part II: Responses to reality: how is fantasy used? Introduction 3. Literature of illusion: invitations to escape reality 4. Literature of vision: introducing new realities 5. Literature of revision: programs for improving reality 6. Literature of disillusion: making reality unknowable; Part III: The functions of fantasy: why use fantasy? Introduction 7. Fantasy as a function of form 8. The problem of meaning and the power of fantasy; Notes; Index
