The Philosopher and the Storyteller

by Embry, Charles R.

• ISBN13: 9780826217905
• ISBN10: 0826217907
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-04-30
• Publisher: Univ of Missouri Pr

Summary

This is the first book-length study of the literary dimensions of Voegelinrs"s philosophy-and the first to use his philosophy to read specific novels. Embry focuses on two key elements of Voegelinrs"s philosophy as important for reading literature: metaxy, the in-between of human consciousness, and metalepsis, human participation in the community of being. He shows how Voegelinrs"s philosophy in general is rooted in literary-symbolic interpretation and, therefore, provides a foundation for the interpretation of literature. And finally he explores Voegelinrs"s insistence that the soundness of literary criticism lies in the consciousness of the reader. Embry then offers Voegelinian readings that vividly illustrate the principles of this approach, including readings ofWaterland, The Demons,andThe Violent Bear It Away.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. xi
Abbreviations of Works Cited in the Text	p. xiii
Prologue: "Composed of Wonders": Literature of the Spirit	p. 1
The Philosopher
"One of My Permanent Occupations": Eric Voegelin as Literary Critic	p. 13
"The Attunement of the Soul": Eric Voegelin's Search of Order	p. 34
Writer, Reader, and the Adventure of Participatory Consciousness	p. 50
The Storyteller
The Barren Quest: Graham Swift's Waterland	p. 63
"A Secret between Man and God": Second Reality in Heimito von Doderer's The Demons	p. 80
Novel of Divine Presence: Flannery O'Connor's The Violent Bear It Away	p. 117
Epilogue: "Our Love of Life, Children, Our Love of Life"	p. 141
Brief Overview of the Literary Topics	p. 151
Waterland: Primary Characters and Setting	p. 155
Waterland: Chronology by Chapter Title	p. 157
Characters from The Demons Included in Chapter 5	p. 159
Heimito von Doderer: Biography, with Events from The Demons	p. 162
Glossary	p. 165
Works Cited	p. 173
Index	p. 181
Credits	p. 191
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