The Intertextuality between Julian Barnes's "Flaubert's Parrot" and Gustave Flaubert's Works and Written Remains

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. The Theory of Intertextuality

2.1 History and Development

2.2 Definition and Terminology

3. Ulrich Broich's and Manfred Pfister's Application of Intertextuality

3.1 Manfred Pfister's Qualitative Criteria

3.2 Ulrich Broich's Quantitative Criteria

4. Julian Barnes's Intertextuality in Flaubert's Parrot

5. Intertextuality between Flaubert's Parrot and Flaubert's written remains

5.1 Flaubert's Parrot as Historiographic Metabiography, Biographical Metafiction, or Fictional Metabiography?

5.2 Flaubert's Parrot as Fictional Metabiography

5.3 Intertextuality in terms of Fictional Metabiography

6. Intertextuality towards Flaubert's works

6.1 Intertextuality between Flaubert's Parrot and Madame Bovary

6.2 References in the Text

6.2.1 Emma Bovary's Eyes

6.2.2 Geoffrey Braithwaite's Search for Ellen

6.2.3 Geoffrey Braithwaite's Escape from Loneliness

6.2.4 Geoffrey Braithwaite's Identification with Charles Bovary

6.2.5 Dissatisfying Ending

7. Conclusion

8. Bibliography

8.1 Primary Literature

8.2 Secondary Literature

8.3 Online Resources

Objectives and Research Themes

This work aims to analyze the role and impact of intertextuality within Julian Barnes's novel Flaubert's Parrot. By applying the theoretical frameworks of Ulrich Broich and Manfred Pfister, the thesis explores how the novel functions as a fictional metabiography, examining the complex, often unreliable relationship between historical facts, Flaubert's written remains, and the fictional narrative.

• The theoretical foundations and terminology of intertextuality in poststructuralist literature.
• The classification of Flaubert's Parrot within the genre of fictional metabiography.
• The intertextual parallels between Julian Barnes's text and Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary.
• The role of the unreliable narrator in shaping the interpretation of the novel's biography.
• The function of intertextual references in the construction of identity and reality within the story.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1. Introduction: Introduces Julian Barnes's experimental novel Flaubert's Parrot and establishes the research goal of examining the role of intertextuality in its narrative structure.

2. The Theory of Intertextuality: Defines the historical development and key terminology of intertextuality, focusing on its emergence in poststructuralist studies and its application to literary analysis.

3. Ulrich Broich's and Manfred Pfister's Application of Intertextuality: Explains the specific methodological guidelines for identifying intertextuality, distinguishing between qualitative and quantitative criteria.

4. Julian Barnes's Intertextuality in Flaubert's Parrot: Analyzes the novel's unique position in postmodern literature and how it utilizes intertextual devices to create a self-reflective plot.

5. Intertextuality between Flaubert's Parrot and Flaubert's written remains: Explores the genre of fictional metabiography and examines how the narrator interacts with the historical traces of Flaubert's life.

6. Intertextuality towards Flaubert's works: Investigates the specific parallels between the novel and Flaubert's broader body of work, with a primary focus on Madame Bovary.

7. Conclusion: Summarizes the thesis, confirming that Flaubert's Parrot relies on intertextuality as an indispensable element for achieving its deeper meaning and thematic depth.

Keywords

Flaubert's Parrot, Julian Barnes, Intertextuality, Fictional Metabiography, Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary, Geoffrey Braithwaite, Postmodernism, Literary Theory, Ulrich Broich, Manfred Pfister, Narrative, Unreliable Narrator, Historiographic Metafiction.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fundamental focus of this thesis?

This work explores the essential role of intertextuality in Julian Barnes's 1984 novel Flaubert's Parrot, arguing that the intertextual connections are critical for understanding the novel’s meaning.

Which specific themes are prioritized?

The core themes include the intersection of history and fiction, the construction of biographical narratives, the nature of unreliable narration, and the analysis of literary intertextual references.

What is the primary objective of this research?

The objective is to demonstrate how intertextuality functions as an architectural element of the novel, specifically by connecting the narrator's personal journey with Gustave Flaubert's historical literary works.

Which scientific methodology is employed?

The thesis utilizes the analytical framework provided by literary theorists Ulrich Broich and Manfred Pfister to categorize and measure the intensity of intertextual markers within the novel.

What topics are discussed in the main part?

The main part covers the historical development of intertextual theory, the definition of fictional metabiography, and an in-depth examination of the parallels between Barnes's text and Flaubert's Madame Bovary.

Which keywords best characterize this work?

Key terms include Flaubert's Parrot, Intertextuality, Fictional Metabiography, Unreliable Narrator, and Postmodern literature.

How does the narrator's status affect the credibility of the research described in the book?

The narrator, Geoffrey Braithwaite, is portrayed as an unreliable and "reluctant" narrator; his subjective, trauma-informed perspective means the reader must interpret his "biographical" findings with caution.

Why is Madame Bovary significant to the analysis of Flaubert's Parrot?

Madame Bovary serves as the primary intertextual reference point; the narrator identifies his own life and his late wife's struggles with those of the characters in Flaubert's masterpiece, thereby creating a parallel structure.