Alterity and History in Micheal Ondaatje's 'The English Patient'

Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism, British
Cover of the book Alterity and History in Micheal Ondaatje's 'The English Patient' by Saskia Lührig, GRIN Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Saskia Lührig ISBN: 9783640285464
Publisher: GRIN Publishing Publication: March 10, 2009
Imprint: GRIN Publishing Language: English
Author: Saskia Lührig
ISBN: 9783640285464
Publisher: GRIN Publishing
Publication: March 10, 2009
Imprint: GRIN Publishing
Language: English

Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 3,0, University of Cologne, course: Contemporary Canadian Novel, 22 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: In Michael Ondaatje's novel The English Patient, the notions of alterity and history play an important and interconnected role. It is set in the last days of World War II and is full of historical hints. The characters in the novel spend the last days of the war in a villa in Italy. Hana, the Canadian nurse, and her patient, whose identity is unknown at first as he is deformed after a plane crash, form an alternative community. Caravaggio, who worked for British Intelligence in North Africa, and Kip, an Indian Sikh and sapper in the British army, are the other two members of this community. The author himself stated in the acknowledgements that 'characters who appear are fictional, as are some of the events and journeys' (322). Now the question arises, to which extent these characters and events are based on 'true' historical facts. But parallel with this the question of 'historical truth' is raised. Hence, this paper will discuss in which way and why Ondaatje fictionalised historical material. Furthermore, the novel deals with the way history is written and shows through its fragmented style of narration the various ways history is recorded and the problems of 'historical truth' as a universal concept. Strongly connected with Ondaatje's treatment of history is the notion of the Other in the novel. To understand the way alterity is used it is necessary to give a short definition of the term and to outline its relevance in literary theories. The notion of alterity is concerned with the definition of identity in contrast to the Other. In The English Patient, the East as the Other and the Western treatment of this concept of Otherness are represented, on the one hand, by the various characters in the novel as they try to reconstruct their identity by depicting the Other. This will be shown especially in the case of the English Patient and Kip. On the other hand, the notion of alterity can be found in the novel's intertexts which illustrate how the concept of Otherness was treated by authors and historians and in which way the characters in the novel are dealing with it. [...]

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 3,0, University of Cologne, course: Contemporary Canadian Novel, 22 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: In Michael Ondaatje's novel The English Patient, the notions of alterity and history play an important and interconnected role. It is set in the last days of World War II and is full of historical hints. The characters in the novel spend the last days of the war in a villa in Italy. Hana, the Canadian nurse, and her patient, whose identity is unknown at first as he is deformed after a plane crash, form an alternative community. Caravaggio, who worked for British Intelligence in North Africa, and Kip, an Indian Sikh and sapper in the British army, are the other two members of this community. The author himself stated in the acknowledgements that 'characters who appear are fictional, as are some of the events and journeys' (322). Now the question arises, to which extent these characters and events are based on 'true' historical facts. But parallel with this the question of 'historical truth' is raised. Hence, this paper will discuss in which way and why Ondaatje fictionalised historical material. Furthermore, the novel deals with the way history is written and shows through its fragmented style of narration the various ways history is recorded and the problems of 'historical truth' as a universal concept. Strongly connected with Ondaatje's treatment of history is the notion of the Other in the novel. To understand the way alterity is used it is necessary to give a short definition of the term and to outline its relevance in literary theories. The notion of alterity is concerned with the definition of identity in contrast to the Other. In The English Patient, the East as the Other and the Western treatment of this concept of Otherness are represented, on the one hand, by the various characters in the novel as they try to reconstruct their identity by depicting the Other. This will be shown especially in the case of the English Patient and Kip. On the other hand, the notion of alterity can be found in the novel's intertexts which illustrate how the concept of Otherness was treated by authors and historians and in which way the characters in the novel are dealing with it. [...]

More books from GRIN Publishing

Cover of the book The Success-Story of Malaysia by Saskia Lührig
Cover of the book Bali - mass tourism in developing countries by Saskia Lührig
Cover of the book Methods of Foreign Language Teaching in the 19th and 20th Century by Saskia Lührig
Cover of the book Race, Ethnicity and Identity on the Internet by Saskia Lührig
Cover of the book 'A photograph without space and time'. Functions, Values and Messages of the 'generated-through software photograph' (GSP) by Saskia Lührig
Cover of the book Instruktion zum Überleben by Saskia Lührig
Cover of the book William Blake - a literary figure to approach religion by Saskia Lührig
Cover of the book Similar Solutions to Similar Problems? by Saskia Lührig
Cover of the book Benito Cereno: Delano -The Unreliable Narrator by Saskia Lührig
Cover of the book Ausgewählte biblische Themen aus religionsgeschichtlicher Sicht by Saskia Lührig
Cover of the book Counseling and psychotherapy in the United States by Saskia Lührig
Cover of the book Dichtung e arte by Saskia Lührig
Cover of the book Female Génocidaires: What was the Nature and Motivations for Hutu Female Involvement in Genocidal Violence Towards Tutsi Women During the Rwandan Genocide? by Saskia Lührig
Cover of the book Prehistoric Islanders. Community Life, Nature and Religion in William Golding's 'The Inheritors' by Saskia Lührig
Cover of the book The Doors - A Legend in American Rock Music by Saskia Lührig
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy