Contemporary Canon Formation Flashcards
Q: What time period does “the contemporary” cover?
A: From the late 20th century to the present day.
Q: How does “the contemporary” overlap with literary terms?
A: It crosses over with terms like ‘post-modern’.
Q: What key questions are raised when discussing the contemporary?
A: How to represent it, when we can discuss it, how to identify trends, and how to write its history.
Q: How is the novel viewed in relation to time?
A: As a phenomenon of the recent past, classified by period labels like ‘Victorian’ and ‘modernist’.
Q: What does contemporary fiction demonstrate?
A: It acts as a microcosm for literary analysis, often focusing on time and temporality.
Q: Why consider gender-based analysis in contemporary writing?
A: Because reader expectations and societal structures still associate gender with certain writing styles and topics.
Q: What tension exists in “contemporary women’s writing”?
A: Balancing gendered inequity with the fluidity of queer identities.
Q: What is The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller about?
A: A retelling of The Iliad focusing on Achilles’ romantic relationship with Patroclus.
Q: How is The Song of Achilles narrated?
A: From Patroclus’ point of view, in a colloquial style.
Q: What remains “Homeric” in The Song of Achilles despite its modern style?
A: The emotional core and epic themes, reimagined through a contemporary lens.
Q: What storytelling strategy does Miller use regarding female characters?
A: She expands the roles of women like Thetis and Briseis.
