The Brockenspectre: The novel as site of transcendental homelessness

Moir, Caroline J.G. (2012) The Brockenspectre: The novel as site of transcendental homelessness. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

Abstract
The novel as site of transcendental homelessness.
In The Theory of the Novel Lukács suggests the novel is, above all others, the form which expresses ‘transcendental homelessness’. That is, it articulates the novelist’s longing for a spiritual and emotional home no longer available in a world without a deity.
Through consideration of post-modern theory and the attributes of belief as it relates to fiction; through exploration of my own practice in writing The Brockenspectre and through critique of three novels: proto-modern – Hawthorne’s The House of the Seven Gables; modernist – Conrad’s Heart of Darkness; and post-modern – Nabokov’s Pnin; the essays of this thesis will examine the fundamental nature of the novelist’s exile, and the way he or she inhabits the text in order to regain the paradise lost. For despite the deconstruction of concepts such as centre and author, it is posited that the idea of the novel as the site, the location, of transcendental homelessness offers the possibility of momentarily regaining the Eden from which the author has been ejected.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Additional Information: The Brockenspectre is a thesis in two parts - the first part is a novel titled 'The Brockenspectre', the second part is a critique. Copyright issues apply, the electronic version of this thesis is not available for viewing.
• Keywords: transcendental homelessness, novelist, post-modern theory,deconstruction author and centre, novel Lukacs,Hawthorne,Conrad, Nabokov, critique, re-gaining Eden.
• Subjects: P Language and Literature > PR English literature
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > English Literature
• Supervisor's Name: Schmidt, Professor Michael
• Date of Award: 2012
• Depositing User: Caroline Moir
• Unique ID: glathesis:2012-3278
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 25 May 2012
• Last Modified: 13 Nov 2024 09:29
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.3278
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/3278