HISTORIOGRAPHICAL METAFICTION:THE PASTIME OF PAST TIME.(IN THE POETICS OF POSTMODERNISM) LINDA HUTCHEON

PRESENTED BY

RINKU MARY RAJU

I MA ENGLISH

St. MARY’S COLLEGE

MANARCADU

METAFICTION

Fiction about fiction. A fiction that calls attention to their

fictional status. An attempt to make the reader

aware of its fictionality and the presence of the author.

Self conscious, Self referential quality that blurs or explores.

LINDA HUTCHEON

Born on August 24,1947 Calls herself as “intellectually

promiscous”. Working in the fields of literary

theory and criticism, opera and Canadian studies

In 2000 she was elected the 117npresident of Modern Language Association.

Particularly known for her influential theories of postmodernism.

HISTORIOGRAPHICAL METAFICTION

The essay discusses : The relation/distinction between

literature and history in nineteenth century.

Ranke’s scientific history – Historical truth can be verify. Literary facts not real. History- object truth. Fiction-imaginary facts.

Postmodernism objects the division of historical and literary and finds parallels

1. They both derive their force more from verisimilitude than from any other objective truth.

2. Both are linguistic construct.3. They make use of narrative form.4. Intertextual.

Relation Between Art and History History - focus on the events from

the past. Poet – focus on what might happen

allowing he/she with more universal truth in an imaginative manner.

Postmodern novel confronts the paradox of fictive /historical representation.

Writers of fiction and historians can include and exclude certain events and people.

Postmodern novel and historical metafiction advocates for multiplicity of truth(s).

Supports that truth is relative to specificity of time and culture.

Historiographical Metafiction is a kind of postmodern novel.

It rejects projecting present believes and standards on the past and asserts the specificity and particularity of individual past events.

Distinction Between Facts and Events

Facts Events

Discourse oriented Meaning is thrusted

upon facts subjective

Not discourse oriented

No meaning ,they are just incidents on the pages of history

objective

Section Two Structuralist analysis of literature. Historiographical Metafiction upholds

the view that the term truth and falsity cannot be applied to fiction.

Postmodern philosophy stresses the fact that truth are plural; there is no falsity.

History cannot claim authentic representation.

It is an inconclusive project and can be subjected to interpretation.

History is a fictionalized narrative.

Section Three

Historical Metafiction crosses the boundaries of fiction and moves to history.

Historical fiction consider history as a shaping force.

Shapes the destiny of society and human life.

Historical novel presents a microcosm of history which is particular and general at the same time.

In historiographical metafiction characters are eccentrics marginalized and peripheral figures who questions history.

In postmodern fiction the author “plays” with truths and lies of historical reports.

In historical novel the authenticity of history is recreated by incorporating it in the narrative.

In historiographical metafiction the details of history are subjected to vigorous critical examination.

New journalism and non-fictional novels are considered to be the prototypes of historical metafiction .

Historical metafiction utilizes two modes of narration .

1. Multiple point of view. 2. Openly controlling narrator. Historiographical metafiction uses the

postmodern technique of parody by incorporating the past into the present.

Questioned history is past and remind history is present .One cannot escape history.

Interaction between history and fiction in postmodernism can be found in areas of subjectivity,intertexuality,reference and ideology.

Postmodernism believes history is the reflection of those who record it.