The Indirect Path to the Literary Canon Exemplified by Shelley\u27s Frankenstein

In his article The Indirect Path to the Literary Canon Exemplified by Shelley\u27s Frankenstein David Fishelov examines the indirect path of Mary Shelley\u27s Frankenstein to the literary canon. Fishelov offers a multi-dimensional model for describing the dynamic process of acquiring, maintaining, and changing canonical status. The model emphasizes the important role played by artistic dialogues and echoes that certain works initiate or inspire in other authors and artists in the form of allusion, homage, parody, and adaptation. The data introduced in the article suggest that the popular cinematic versions of Frankenstein probably not only played a mediating role but also contributed to making Mary Shelley\u27s novel part and parcel of the contemporary literary canon

The Poetics of Six-Word Stories

Structural examination of the six-word story as a literary genre, frequently referencing the prototypical “baby shoes” story attributed to Hemingway. Fishelov considers the history of the genre and its differentiating characteristics in addition to laying out the necessary elements of a successful six-word story

Literary genres — alive and kicking : The productivity of a literary concept

Fishelov David. Literary genres — alive and kicking : The productivity of a literary concept. In: Revue belge de philologie et d'histoire, tome 75, fasc. 3, 1997. Langues et littératures modernes - Moderne taal- en letterkunde. pp. 653-663

Gossip as a Channel for Circulating Subversive Truth: In Heym's The King David Report, the GDR and the Jardin du Luxembourg

Dans la Chronique du roi David (1991) , Stefan Heym (1913-2001) propose une perspective favorable sur le potin, nonobstant la censure biblique de cette activité (ex : Proverbe 11:13). La réécriture satirique de Heym de l'histoire biblique se concentre sur le personnage d’Ethan, un écrivain-historien nommé par le roi Salomon pour composer un rapport officiel sur la vie et l’arrivée au pouvoir du roi David. À un moment donné les deux fils d’Ethan, Sem et Sheleph, reviennent du marché et racontent à Ethan certaines rumeurs «savoureuses» qu'ils y ont entendues. Ces rumeurs, tandis qu’elles sont un peu exagérées et embellies, fournissent toutefois des aperçus de la situation politique qui sont beaucoup plus fidèles à la vérité que les inventions des porte-parole officiels. Pour justifier le portrait littéraire de Heym du potin comme une voie pour communiquer la vérité subversive dans les régimes autoritaires, je cite la recherche historique systématique de Robert Darnton au sujet des voies diverses pour communiquer les nouvelles de Paris au dix-huitième siècle (Darnton, 2000). In The King David Report (1972), Stefan Heym (1913-2001) offers a favorable view of gossip, notwithstanding biblical censuring of that activity (e.g. Proverb 11:13). Heym's satirical re-telling of the biblical story focuses on the character of Ethan, a writer-historian appointed by King Solomon to compose an official report on the life and rise to power of King David. At one point Ethan's two sons, Shem and Sheleph, come back from the market, telling Ethan of some "juicy" rumors they heard there. These rumors, while using some exaggerations and added embellishments, nevertheless provide insights into the political situation much more faithful to the truth than the fabrications of official spokespersons. To substantiate Heym's literary portrayal of gossip as a channel for communicating subversive truth in authoritarian regimes, I cite Robert Darnton's systematic historical research into the diverse channels for communicating news in Paris of the eighteenth century (Darnton, 2000)

Parodies of Six-Word Stories: A Comic Literary Metagenre

Citing Hemingway\u27s incorrectly attributed baby shoes as the prototype of the six-word story, Fishelov situates parodies of six-word stories within their generic, metageneric, and parodic contexts. Fishelov identifies central characteristics of the form and discusses how these elements combine in dozens of story examples (e.g., For sale. BMW. Blinkers never used. ). Notes that knowledge of the genre and baby shoes story is vital for fully appreciating the humor of some parodies, which he suggests attests to the mini-genre\u27s growing popularity and range