NOTES ON THE NOVEL’S STRUCTURE

THE COLLECTORby John Fowles

Composition

Is the ending predictable or unexpected?How many chapters are in the novel? What is

the function of each one?What is the semantic* role of the diary?

*Semantic – pertaining to meaning.

The author and the Character

Every author draws plots and characters from his own life, personal experience or observations.Fowles/Clegg: A lonely childhoodAn interest for natureA loving uncle who encourages this interestImaginary world the boy lives in as opposed to reality

Levels of the Novel

The plot levelThe symbolic level* p.249

The mythological level

pp.199, 217.

The archetypal level*The metapoetic* level(Allusions and quotes;

interconnections with other works of art) p.158

Term Definitions

*Symbol usually means a material object standing for something imperceptible, especially abstract concepts.

*Archetype (in Jungian psychology) a collectively inherited unconscious idea, pattern of thought, image, etc., universally present in individual psyches. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/archetype

*Metapoetics (noun), metapoetic (adjective). A phenomenon of writers/poets reflecting on literature within their own writings, that is, literature discussing itself.

INTERTEXTUALITY

THE COLLECTORby John Fowles

Arts and Music: Questions

1. Miranda talks about art a lot. What favourite artists of hers can you name?

2. What does Miranda dislike in art and why?

3. What characters listen to Goldberg Variations? In what episode? How does the music affect them?

Allusions to Music and Art

Music: Requiem byMozart

Art:Still Life With Apples

byCézanne

Still Life with Apples by Paul Cézanne

Background Information and Reader’s Experience

Other texts (art, music) change/affect readers’ perception of the novel.

Example: Miranda wants to paint like Berthe Morisot. What does this add to her portrayal as a character?

The interconnection between various worksof art and literature = Intertextuality

The meaning of a literary work is created with the help of other works of literature, paintings, music pieces, etc.

Referring to other works of art known to the reader gives a literary work an additional dimension.

“Books always speak of other books, and are made of other books.” (Umberto Eco)

There is a limited number of basic plots literature has at its disposal; references and allusions are unavoidable.

Intertextuality in The Collector

The names:MirandaFerdinandQuotes:The Tempest by

Shakespeare“Come, thou

tortoise!” (77)Allusions*:Caliban

Allusion*An indirect reference to some piece of knowledge not actually mentioned. Allusions usually come from a body of information that the author presumes the reader will know. For example, an author who writes, “She was another Helen,” is alluding to the proverbial beauty of Helen of Troy. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/allusion