An Imaginary Life : A Novel
New York (City)
:
George Braziller
,
1978
Z828578
1978
single work
novel
(taught in 8 units)
'In prose that is both elegant and lyrical, David Malouf departs from the little-known facts of Ovid's exile beyond the pale of civilization to create a deeply moving novel of extraordinary beauty. An outcast in a vast wasteland at the edge of the Black Sea, Ovid discovers a feral child. As he teaches the boy to speak the language of the civilized world, the child tutors him in his own tongue, the language of nature, and the once barren landscape begins to resonate with meaning.' (Publisher's blurb)
the ways in which writers build upon and transform the work of their predecessors.
The topic begins by examining the origins of narrative and creation stories and moves
out to investigate poetry, plays and novels in modes ranging from naturalism to
surrealism. Film transformations of a number of the written narratives will be
available for discussion.
The importance of thematic issues such as gender, language and the development of
identity will be considered in this approach to the art of storytelling. Lectures,
workshops and assessment tasks will be designed to enhance critical skills in reading
fictions and in writing about them.
Workshop paper (1000 words) (20%)
Essay (3000 words) (40%)
Coverage test / exam. (20%)
