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出版者:Routledge

作者:Liebler, Naomi

出品人:

页数:200

译者:

出版时间:2006-12

价格:$ 141.25

装帧:HRD

isbn号码:9780415358408

丛书系列:

图书标签:

• Early Modern Literature
• Prose Fiction
• English Literature
• Renaissance
• 16th Century
• 17th Century
• Literary Criticism
• Cultural History
• Narrative
• Fiction

Early Modern Prose Fiction: A New Dawn of Narrative Exploration The period spanning roughly from the late 15th century to the early 18th century witnessed a profound and multifaceted transformation in the landscape of English literary production. While poetry and drama undeniably flourished and commanded significant attention, the burgeoning genre of prose fiction carved out a distinct and increasingly influential space for itself. This era, often termed the Early Modern period, was a crucible of change, marked by intellectual ferment, expanding literacy, and a shifting cultural consciousness. It was within this dynamic environment that prose fiction began to shed its earlier, more rudimentary forms and embrace a wider array of narrative strategies, thematic concerns, and stylistic innovations, laying crucial groundwork for the novel as we know it. The genesis of Early Modern prose fiction cannot be divorced from its medieval antecedents. Romances, with their chivalric heroes, quests, and often fantastical elements, provided a foundational narrative structure. However, the Early Modern period saw a deliberate movement away from the purely escapist and idealized towards a more grounded, and at times, introspective engagement with the human condition. The rise of printing technology played an indispensable role in this evolution. No longer the exclusive domain of scribes and manuscript circulation, texts could be produced more readily and disseminated more widely. This accessibility fostered a larger reading public, diverse in its tastes and expectations, which in turn spurred authors to experiment with different forms and subject matter to capture their attention. One of the most significant developments during this time was the increasing exploration of verisimilitude, a desire to portray life as it was lived, or at least as it could conceivably be lived. While outright realism in the modern sense was still some way off, authors began to experiment with characters who felt more human, with motivations that were recognizable, and with social settings that reflected the realities of their contemporary world. This shift can be observed in the emergence of various subgenres that catered to different segments of this expanding readership. For instance, the picaresque novel, drawing inspiration from Spanish models like Lazarillo de Tormes, offered a window into the lives of roguish, often lower-class protagonists who navigated the world through wit, cunning, and a considerable dose of luck. These narratives, typically episodic, followed the adventures of a central character, a pícaro, as they moved from one situation to another, encountering a cross-section of society and often exposing its hypocrisies and corruptions. The detached, often ironic narration allowed for social commentary without directly confronting authority, making these stories both entertaining and subtly subversive. Authors found in the picaresque a flexible framework to explore social mobility, the challenges of survival, and the moral ambiguities of everyday life. Parallel to this, the romance tradition continued to evolve, adapting to new sensibilities. While retaining some of the fantastical elements of earlier romances, these later works often incorporated more complex psychological portrayals and explored themes of love, honor, and destiny with greater nuance. The pastoral romance, for example, offered an idealized vision of rural life, a retreat from the complexities and anxieties of urban existence, yet it often served as a subtle vehicle for exploring social hierarchies and romantic entanglements in a less overtly threatening environment. The burgeoning interest in the individual and their inner life also manifested in other forms. The rise of autobiographical and biographical writing, while not strictly fiction in all cases, blurred the lines and contributed to the development of prose narrative that focused on personal experience. Even when fictionalized, these accounts aimed to create a sense of lived reality, delving into the thoughts, feelings, and personal histories of their subjects. This emphasis on the individual paved the way for the more psychologically driven narratives that would dominate later periods. Another crucial element in the development of Early Modern prose fiction was the increasing sophistication of language and style. Authors began to move beyond the ornate and often convoluted prose of earlier periods, striving for greater clarity, conciseness, and expressiveness. Experimentation with dialogue, the use of vernacular speech, and the development of varied sentence structures all contributed to a richer and more engaging narrative voice. The influence of rhetorical theories and the growing understanding of the power of language to persuade and entertain were keenly felt in the writing of this era. The impact of religious and political upheavals of the period also found expression in prose fiction. The Reformation, the ensuing religious conflicts, and the ongoing debates about governance and authority provided fertile ground for narratives that explored faith, doubt, morality, and the nature of power. While direct criticism of the established order might be dangerous, allegorical tales and narratives that presented moral dilemmas offered ways to engage with these complex issues indirectly. Furthermore, the expansion of geographical knowledge through exploration and increased trade introduced new settings and cultural encounters into prose fiction. Stories of distant lands, exotic peoples, and adventurous voyages offered readers a glimpse into worlds beyond their immediate experience, stimulating imagination and contributing to a broader understanding of humanity. The emergence of distinct authorial voices is another hallmark of this period. As prose fiction gained traction, authors began to develop recognizable styles and thematic preoccupations. Figures like Thomas More, whose Utopia offered a visionary, albeit satirical, blueprint for an ideal society, demonstrated the potential of prose to engage with philosophical and political ideas. Philip Sidney's The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia, a sprawling and influential work, blended romance, pastoral, and epic elements, showcasing a virtuosic command of language and narrative complexity. John Lyly's Euphues, with its elaborate and highly stylized prose, though perhaps less enduring in its direct influence, was instrumental in shaping linguistic fashion and exploring courtly themes. As the period progressed towards the 17th century, the foundations laid by these earlier experiments solidified. The groundwork for the eventual rise of the novel was being meticulously prepared through a sustained engagement with character development, plot construction, and the exploration of diverse human experiences. The increasing sophistication of prose, the growing appetite for stories that reflected or commented upon the social and political realities of the time, and the willingness of authors to experiment with form and content all contributed to a vibrant and evolving genre. In essence, Early Modern prose fiction represents a pivotal moment in the history of English literature. It was a period of intense innovation and exploration, where writers, responding to a changing world and a growing readership, began to harness the power of prose to tell stories that were more varied, more resonant, and ultimately, more deeply engaging with the complexities of human life than ever before. This period of narrative awakening was not a singular event, but a gradual but relentless blossoming of storytelling possibilities that would profoundly shape the literary landscape for centuries to come.

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