J. M. Coetzee's Poetics of the Child
Arendt, Agamben, and the (Ir)responsibilities of Literary Creation
- 192 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
J. M. Coetzee's Poetics of the Child
Arendt, Agamben, and the (Ir)responsibilities of Literary Creation
About this book
Tracing how central tensions in J.M. Coetzee's fiction converge in and are made visible by the child figure, this book establishes the centrality of the child to Coetzee's poetics. Through readings of novels from Dusklands to The Schooldays of Jesus, Charlotta Elmgren shows how Coetzee's writing stages the constant interplay between irresponsibility and responsibility-to the self, the other, and the world.
In articulating this poetics of (ir)responsibility, Elmgren offers the first sustained engagement with the intersections between Coetzee's work and the philosophical thought of Giorgio Agamben. With reference also to Hannah Arendt's thinking on natality, education, and amor mundi, Elmgren demonstrates the inextricable links in Coetzee's writing between freedom, play, and serious attention to the world.
The book identifies five central dynamics of Coetzee's poetics: the child as a figure of truth-telling and authenticity; the ethics of the not-so-other child; the child, new beginnings and care for the world; childish behaviour as perpetual study; and the redemptive potential of infancy. Offering a fresh contribution to the field of literary childhood studies, Elmgren shows the critical possibilities in thinking about-and with-childlike openness and childish experimentation when approaching the writing and reading of the work of J.M. Coetzee and beyond.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Half-title Page
- Title Page
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Introduction
- 1 The story of the (un)romantic child: Innocence, truth, and first fictions of the self
- 2 Ethics of the not-so-other child
- 3 The child between past and future
- 4 Childish behaviour: The poetics of study
- 5 The redemptive nonposition of infancy
- Coda
- References
- Index
- Copyright Page