Short Fiction (2025)

Short Fiction Titles

• Key Texts for Study:

  • 'The Bullet in the Brain'

  • 'The Swimmer'

  • 'The Suit' (Continued)

  • 'The Nose'

  • 'The Metamorphosis'

• Course Identifier:

  • English Literary Studies | ELL1013

  • Instructor: Hedley Twidle

  • Contact: hedley.twidle@uct.ac.za

  • Location: A.C. Jordan Room 127

• Key Term:

  • Narrative, along with related concepts and terminology.

Dates of Classes

• 24/02/25

• 25/02/25

• 27/02/25

Concepts of Interpretation

• Description and Summary:

  • What is it about?

• Interpretation and Analysis:

  • What is it really about?

• Evidence and Support:

  • How do you know? (Using evidence, quoting, close reading, and developing an argument).

Narrative Framework

• Common Narrative Opening:

  • The phrase "Once upon a time" used to introduce stories, often associated with fairy tales.

• Cultural Context:

  • Translations in various languages showcase the universal presence of storytelling across cultures.

• Citations Needed:

  • Wikipedia article requires additional citations for verification regarding the historical usage of this phrase.

Paul Ricoeur on Time

• Quote: "Time becomes human to the extent that it is articulated through a narrative mode."

• Chrono-Logic:

  • Differentiation between 'internal' and 'external' time in narratives.

  • Questions on how storytelling interacts with time, leads to diverse temporalities.

Narrative Analysis by Roland Barthes

• Variety of Forms:

  • Influences of genre - narratives are found in myths, legends, and various media like films and paintings.

• Universality:

  • Narrative is intrinsic to human experience, transcending cultures and time.

Example of Non-verbal Narrative

• Lyric Analysis:

  • Texts from Radiohead and Robert Johnson explore narrative through music and lyrics that invoke emotional and narrative structures.

Concept of Narrative Voice

• Narrative Perspective:

  • Differentiation between first, second, and third-person narrations.

  • Techniques such as close third person and free indirect style enhance the narrative experience by blending character's internal thoughts with narrative voice.

Thematic Exploration in 'The Suit'

• Language and Context:

  • Analyzing how vocabulary, diction, and context influence the understanding of a literary work.

• Cultural Significance:

  • Weaving social context into literary studies, enhancing the understanding of themes and character dynamics.

Can Themba: Biography and Contributions

• Background:

  • Can Themba, born in 1924, was influential in South African literature, particularly in genres exploring social issues under apartheid.

• Achievements:

  • Became a prominent figure through journalism and literature, with his work being adapted for stage and receiving honors posthumously.

Narrative Critique by Roland Barthes

• Text as a Tissue:

  • Acknowledges interconnectedness in literature and culture; the narrative to avoid assigning a singular interpretation to texts and promote multiplicity in understanding.

• Criticism and The Author's Death:

  • Barthes argues for the removal of authorial intent from text interpretation, allowing for diverse readings.

Critical Frameworks for Literary Analysis

• Cultural Criticism:

  • Explores all elements of a text, including genre, form, personal response, and broader societal context.

• Comparative Reading:

  • Engaging literature in conversation with other works and contexts to enrich understanding.

Final Thoughts on Literary Studies

• Narrative Structure:

  • The idea that narrative constructs our understanding of time, memory, and cultural values in literature and beyond.