Metamorphosis And Identity

Author : Caroline Walker Bynum
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 294 pages
File Size : 40,7 Mb
Release : 2001-05-06
Category : History
ISBN : UOM:39015060625020

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Metamorphosis and Identity by Caroline Walker Bynum Pdf

An exploration of the roles of metamorphosis and hybridity in the establishment of personal identity, with particular emphasis on the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The four studies in this book center on the Western obsession with the nature of personal identity. Focusing on the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, but with an eye toward antiquity and the present, Caroline Walker Bynum explores the themes of metamorphosis and hybridity in genres ranging from poetry, folktales, and miracle collections to scholastic theology, devotional treatises, and works of natural philosophy. She argues that the obsession with boundary-crossing and otherness was an effort to delineate nature's regularities and to establish a strong sense of personal identity, extending even beyond the grave. She examines historical figures such as Marie de France, Gerald of Wales, Bernard Clairvaux, Thomas Aquinas, and Dante, as well as modern fabulists such as Angela Carter, as examples of solutions to the perennial question of how the individual can both change and remain constant. Addressing the fundamental question for historians--that of change--Bynum also explores the nature of history writing itself.

Author : David Gallagher
Publisher : Rodopi
Page : 471 pages
File Size : 49,9 Mb
Release : 2009
Category : Literary Criticism
ISBN : 9789042027084

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Metamorphosis by David Gallagher Pdf

The origins of selected instances of metamorphosis in Germanic literature are traced from their roots in Ovid's Metamorphoses, grouped roughly on an 'ascending evolutionary scale' (invertebrates, birds, animals, and mermaids). Whilst a broad range of mythological, legendary, fairytale and folktale traditions have played an appreciable part, Ovid's Metamorphoses is still an important comparative analysis and reference point for nineteenth- and twentieth-century German-language narratives of transformations. Metamorphosis is most often used as an index of crisis: an existential crisis of the subject or a crisis in a society's moral, social or cultural values. Specifically selected texts for analysis include Jeremias Gotthelf's Die schwarze Spinne (1842) with the terrifying metamorphoses of Christine into a black spider, the metamorphosis of Gregor Samsa in Kafka's Die Verwandlung (1915), ambiguous metamorphoses in E. T. A. Hoffmann's Der goldne Topf (1814), Hermann Hesse's Piktors Verwandlungen (1925), Der Steppenwolf (1927) and Christoph Ransmayr's Die letzte Welt (1988). Other mythical metamorphoses are examined in texts by Bachmann, Fouqué, Fontane, Goethe, Nietzsche, Nelly Sachs, Thomas Mann and Wagner, and these and many others confirm that metamorphosis is used historically, scientifically, for religious purposes; to highlight identity, sexuality, a dream state, or for metaphoric, metonymic or allegorical reasons.

Author : Leslie A. Sconduto
Publisher : McFarland
Page : 230 pages
File Size : 43,7 Mb
Release : 2014-01-10
Category : Literary Criticism
ISBN : 9780786452163

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Metamorphoses of the Werewolf by Leslie A. Sconduto Pdf

The mythical werewolf is known for its sudden transformation under the full moon, but the creature also underwent a narrative evolution through the centuries, from bloodthirsty creature to hero. Beginning with The Epic of Gilgamesh, Ovid's Metamorphoses, and an account in Petronius' Satyricon, the book analyzes the context that created the traditional image of the werewolf as a savage beast. The Catholic Church's response to the popular belief in werewolves and medieval literature's sympathetic depiction of the werewolf as victim are presented to support the idea of the werewolf as a complex and varied cultural symbol. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Author : David Kibbe
Publisher : Scribner
Page : 252 pages
File Size : 55,6 Mb
Release : 1987
Category : Health & Fitness
ISBN : 0689118473

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David Kibbe's Metamorphosis by David Kibbe Pdf

Analyzing personality traits in conjunction with physical characteristics, this makeover guide shows women how to express their personal style with advice on clothing, makeup, and hair styles

Author : Marie Louise von Glinski
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 128 pages
File Size : 52,6 Mb
Release : 2012-02-09
Category : Literary Collections
ISBN : 9781139504201

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Simile and Identity in Ovid's Metamorphoses by Marie Louise von Glinski Pdf

Nulli sua forma manebat. The world of Ovid's Metamorphoses is marked by constant flux in which nothing keeps its original form. This book argues that Ovid uses the epic simile to capture states of unresolved identity - in the transition between human, animal and divine identity, as well as in the poem's textual ambivalence between genres and the negotiation of fiction and reality. In conjuring up a likeness, the mental image of the simile enters a dialectic of appearances in a visually complex and treacherous universe. Original and subtle close readings of episodes in the poem, from Narcissus to Adonis, from Diana's blush to the freeform dreams in the House of Sleep, trace the simile's potential for exploiting indeterminacy and immateriality. In its protean permutations the simile touches on the most profound issues of the poem - the nature of humanity and divinity and the essence of poetic creation.

Author : George Ferzoco
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 277 pages
File Size : 46,9 Mb
Release : 2020-07-09
Category : Literary Criticism
ISBN : 9781351151108

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Proteus by George Ferzoco Pdf

Since Ovid, the concept of metamorphosis has been an irresistible temptation for writers, not only as a metaphor for shifting personal identity but as a way of exploring ideas of cultural and political transition. The essays in this volume show how authors from Ovid, Chaucer, and Shakespeare to Thomas Mann, Karen Blixen, and 20th-century science fiction writers, have used this pervasive concept to raise fundamental questions about the nature and agency of radical change. Among the broad topics addressed are how shifts in scientific understanding intersect with and even effect transformations in literary expression; the differing values attached to the language of metamorphosis over time; and the connection between these values and structures of power, particularly gender relations. In addition to the editors, the contributors are Darko Suvin, Alessandro Perutelli, Elsa Linguanti, Douglas Burnham, Enrico Giaccherini, Lia Pacinotti, Michael St John, Rocco Coronato, Silvia Bruti, Elisabetta Cori, Judith Rorai Milanesi, Catherine Burgass, Luca Biagiotti, Stefania Magnoni, Daniel Weavis, Julian North, Ashley Chantler, Martin Halliwell, Patrick Quinn, Roberta Ferrari, Silvia Bigliazzi, and Nicoletta Caputo.

Author : Franz Kafka
Publisher : Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd
Page : 71 pages
File Size : 43,6 Mb
Release : 2021-03-19
Category : Fiction
ISBN : 9789390960248

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Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka Pdf

Franz Kafka, the author has very nicely narrated the story of Gregou Samsa who wakes up one day to discover that he has metamorphosed into a bug. The book concerns itself with the themes of alienation and existentialism. The author has written many important stories, including ‘The Judgement’, and much of his novels ‘Amerika’, ‘The Castle’, ‘The Hunger Artist’. Many of his stories were published during his lifetime but many were not. Over the course of the 1920s and 30s Kafka’s works were published and translated instantly becoming landmarks of twentieth-century literature. Ironically, the story ends on an optimistic note, as the family puts itself back together. The style of the book epitomizes Kafka’s writing. Kafka very interestingly, used to present an impossible situation, such as a man’s transformation into an insect, and develop the story from there with perfect realism and intense attention to detail. The Metamorphosis is an autobiographical piece of writing, and we find that parts of the story reflect Kafka’s own life.

Author : Marie Louise von Glinski
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 181 pages
File Size : 41,8 Mb
Release : 2012-02-09
Category : History
ISBN : 9780521760966

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Simile and Identity in Ovid's Metamorphoses by Marie Louise von Glinski Pdf

The first monograph on Ovid's epic simile, offering fresh perspectives on central episodes of this important work.

Author : Franz Kafka
Publisher : Librofilio
Page : 58 pages
File Size : 44,7 Mb
Release : 2024-02-02
Category : Fiction
ISBN : 9782384613625

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Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka Pdf

"Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka is a haunting and surreal exploration of existentialism and the human condition. This novella introduces readers to Gregor Samsa, a diligent traveling salesman who wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a gigantic insect. Kafka's narrative delves into the isolation, alienation, and absurdity that Gregor experiences as he grapples with his new identity. The novella is a profound examination of the individual's struggle to maintain a sense of self and belonging in a world that often feels incomprehensible. Kafka's writing is characterized by its dreamlike quality and a sense of impending doom. As Gregor's physical and emotional transformation unfolds, readers are drawn into a nightmarish world that blurs the lines between reality and illusion. "Metamorphosis" is a timeless work that continues to captivate readers with its exploration of themes such as identity, family, and the dehumanizing effects of modern society. Kafka's unique style and ability to evoke a sense of existential unease make this novella a literary classic. Step into the surreal and unsettling world of "Metamorphosis" and embark on a journey of self-discovery and existential reflection. Kafka's masterpiece challenges readers to confront the complexities of the human psyche and the enigmatic nature of existence. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Franz Kafka (1883-1924) was a Czech-born German-speaking novelist and short story writer whose works have had a profound influence on modern literature. Born in Prague, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Kafka's writing is characterized by its exploration of existentialism, alienation, and the absurdity of human existence. Kafka's most famous works include "Metamorphosis," where the protagonist wakes up one morning transformed into a giant insect, and "The Trial," a nightmarish tale of a man arrested and tried by an inscrutable and oppressive bureaucracy. His writing often delves into the themes of isolation and the struggle to find meaning in an indifferent world. Despite his relatively small body of work, Kafka's impact on literature and philosophy has been immense. His writings have been interpreted in various ways, and the term "Kafkaesque" is often used to describe situations characterized by surreal complexity and absurdity. Kafka's legacy as a literary innovator and his exploration of the human psyche continue to captivate readers and scholars alike, making him a central figure in the world of modern literature.

Author : Matthias Dickert
Publisher : GRIN Verlag
Page : 79 pages
File Size : 54,9 Mb
Release : 2016-05-13
Category : Literary Criticism
ISBN : 9783668217805

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Questions of Identity, Metamorphosis, Religious Fanaticism and Islam in Salman Rushdie's "The Satanic Verses" (1988) and "Two Years, Eight Months, Twenty-eight Nights" (2015) by Matthias Dickert Pdf

Scientific Essay from the year 2016 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, Comenius University in Bratislava (Englische Literatur), language: English, abstract: This paper is about Salman Rushdie and two of his major works. The approach to work on "The Satanic Verses" and his latest publication "Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights" (2015) tries to (critically) reflect Rushdie's development as a writer within the time span of almost three decades. Twenty-seven years for a writer and his community might be an eternity since the world has tremendously changed since then. Rushdie himself, however, in both novels sticks to major themes of his interest. Among them are the parameters used here. Identity, metamorphosis and (religious) fanaticism can be found in both novels and it is the focus on these three which will be central here. To do so not only helps to reflect major literary topics Rushdie is concerned about it also shows the development these matters have taken within Rushdie' s literary work and the world it reflects. In is exactly the historical framework which Rushdie uses which helps to understand his literary attempt because he said in an interview with the German magazine "Stern" in 2015 that he understands himself as an author who lives in a certain period of time and who therefore has to write about it. The dualistic concept that links the narrative in both novels analysed here must also be seen in this historical framework. Rushdie sees modern man in a globalized world as homeless, hybrid, bound to metamorphosis, caught between the rational and the irrational yet open for positive options which he can choose provided he uses his freedom. So identity, metamorphosis, religion and fundamentalism are closely connected to personal freedom and it will thus be interesting to see how Rushdie's ideas have been worked into both novels. The structure of this book is therefore as follows: A first part will consist in some sort of background information on Rushdie and his position in contemporary English literature. A second major part will consist in a short introduction of the postcolonial setting. This helps to place Rushdie's work in a literary background. A next step lies in a closer analysis of chosen parameters such as the use of the hybrid Islamic spirituality, transcendence, identity formation, failure and powerlessness. The next important step lies in a close interpretation of both works. This will be followed by an outlook.

Author : Vinicio Busacchi,Giuseppe Martini
Publisher : Cambridge Scholars Publishing
Page : 145 pages
File Size : 41,8 Mb
Release : 2020-12-24
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781527564152

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Personal Identity between Philosophy and Psychology by Vinicio Busacchi,Giuseppe Martini Pdf

What is personal identity? What forms its nature? Is there a difference between identity and personality? What makes a ‘person’ an individual, and what exactly is the person? What role is played by character, nature, environment, society, values and destiny in defining and substantiating a personal identity? The dialectics of different disciplinary approaches and knowledges, as well as different theoretical-speculative perspectives and traditions, can be more productive in deepening and readdressing problems concerning human identity. It is by following this line of reasoning that this book analyses and discusses the above questions from the dialectical perspective of psychoanalysis, psychiatry and philosophy. It offers a new point of departure for theoretical-scientific and speculative advancement. The book also reconsiders the fundamental characteristics of a dynamic and hermeneutic vision of identity, tracing a middle-way perspective and, at the same time, absorbing Wilfred Bion’s idea of transformation and Paul Ricoeur’s philosophy of translation.

Author : Rawi Hage
Publisher : House of Anansi
Page : 322 pages
File Size : 53,6 Mb
Release : 2008-09-01
Category : Fiction
ISBN : 9780887848506

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Cockroach by Rawi Hage Pdf

Cockroach is as urgent, unsettling, and brilliant as Rawi Hage's bestselling and critically acclaimed first book, De Niro's Game. The novel takes place during one month of a bitterly cold winter in Montreal's restless immigrant community, where a self-described thief has just tried but failed to commit suicide. Rescued against his will, the narrator is obliged to attend sessions with a well-intentioned but naive therapist. This sets the story in motion, leading us back to the narrator's violent childhood in a war-torn country, forward into his current life in the smoky emigre cafes where everyone has a tale, and out into the frozen night-time streets of Montreal, where the thief survives on the edge, imagining himself to be a cockroach invading the lives of the privileged, but wilfully blind, citizens who surround him. In 2008, Cockroach was a finalist for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, the Governor General's Literary Award, and the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. It won the Paragraphe Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction, presented by the Quebec Writers' Federation.

Author : Etta Kralovec
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 107 pages
File Size : 48,9 Mb
Release : 2009
Category : Collective memory
ISBN : 1614700664

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Identity in Metamorphosis by Etta Kralovec Pdf

Author : Anthony Elliott
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 220 pages
File Size : 49,8 Mb
Release : 2015-10-29
Category : Social Science
ISBN : 9781135043735

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Identity Troubles by Anthony Elliott Pdf

In our turbulent world of global flows and digital transformations pervasive identity crises and self-reinvention have become increasingly central to everyday life. In this fascinating book, Anthony Elliott shows how global transformations – the new electronic economy, digital worlds, biotechnologies and artificial intelligence - generatesa metamorphosis across the force-field of identities today. Identity Troubles documents various contemporary mutations of identity – from robotics to biomedicine, from cosmetic surgery to digital lives – and considers their broader social, cultural and political consequences. Elliott offers a synthesis of the key conceptual innovations in identity studies in the context of recent social theory. He critically examines accounts of "individualization", "reflexivity", "liquidization" and "new maladies of the soul" – situating these in wider social and historical contexts, and drawing out critical themes. He follows with a series of chapters looking at how what is truly new in contemporary life is having profound consequences for identities, both private and public. This book will be essential reading for undergraduate students in sociology, cultural studies, political science, and human geography. It offers the first comprehensive overview of identity studies in the interdisciplinary field of social theory.

Author : David Barry Desmond Asker
Publisher : Rodopi
Page : 184 pages
File Size : 41,5 Mb
Release : 2001
Category : Metamorphosis in literature
ISBN : 9042012250

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Aspects of Metamorphosis by David Barry Desmond Asker Pdf

Aspects of Metamorphosis: Fictional Representations of the Becoming Human explores the various forms of metamorphosis found in literature - mostly modern fiction but informed by earlier examples - and the premises upon which the literature of transformation may be said to depend. Instances of metamorphosis are very widespread in modern literature but as yet there has been no attempt to describe this literary-anthropological phenomenon from a larger perspective. This study approaches such a task. The focus of Aspects of Metamorphosis is on human-animal fictional metamorphoses which embody the concept of becoming-human. Gilles Deleuze describes metamorphosis (especially in Kafka) as the becoming-animal. Across the wide range of examples of literary metamorphosis in different languages and cultures, I describe the becoming-animal as an aspect of the becoming human, a radical approach to mankind's perception of itself, and restoration to itself, through an animal other. Franz Kafka is in many ways an odd man out in the crowd of modern metamorphosists. Other authors across borders, political, geographical and linguistic, present a humanist and moralist perspective that does not represent a fundamental break with the norms and cultural traditions rooted in the past.