"A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" from the Perspective of Literary Anthropology

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction: Humans and Fiction
• Arnold Gehlen's Philosophical Anthropology
• Wolfgang Iser: Literature as a Medium and Mirror of Human Self-Unfolding
• James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
  • History and Politics
  • Religion
  • Family and Friends
  • Literature and Art
  • The Artist's Identity
  • Language
  • Forms of Play
  • Educational Path: Life versus Art
  • Inherent Contradictions of Fiction
• Self-Staging: Identity and Narration
• Conclusion: Fiction and Identity

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This thesis examines the uses of literature and fiction, particularly focusing on how they contribute to understanding human identity formation. It investigates the psychological functions of narrative and explores how our minds and psyches are unfolded through fiction. Ultimately, it aims to uncover what these processes reveal about the human condition.

• The role of imagination and symbolism in making sense of the world and the self.
• The relationship between literature and human development, with a focus on the unfolding of the self.
• The inherent contradictions and possibilities of fiction as a means of exploring and expressing human needs.
• The significance of narrative in constructing personal identity and the act of "staging" an identity.
• The connection between literary anthropology and the analysis of specific literary works.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The first chapter introduces the concept of "humans and fiction," exploring the universal human tendency to tell stories and create narratives. It argues that storytelling serves as an attempt to find meaning and orientation in the world and plays a crucial role in identity formation. The second chapter examines Arnold Gehlen's philosophical anthropology, emphasizing the concept of "Mängelwesen" (deficient being) and its implications for understanding human culture and civilization. Gehlen's theory suggests that humans, lacking instinctive adaptations, rely on imagination, symbols, and culture to make sense of their existence and orient themselves towards the future. The third chapter analyzes Wolfgang Iser's ideas on literature as a medium and mirror of human self-unfolding, highlighting the aesthetic possibilities of fiction in exploring human needs and desires. This chapter lays the groundwork for the subsequent analysis of James Joyce's "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" in the following chapter.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This thesis focuses on the intersection of literary anthropology, narrative theory, and literary analysis. Key terms and concepts include "Mängelwesen," imagination, symbolism, self-reflection, identity construction, narrative function, and the aesthetics of fiction. The analysis draws heavily on the works of Arnold Gehlen and Wolfgang Iser, while examining James Joyce's "A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man" as a case study. This work delves into the themes of self-determination, artistic development, and the impact of cultural and societal influences on individual identity.