5. Postmodern Perspectives
A. Multiple Choice Questions
1) Which of the following statements best reflects the
postmodern perspective?
a)
There is no clear-cut dividing line between fact and fiction in writing.
b)
A literary text has a single and definite meaning.
c)
Readers can find a fixed meaning of a literary text.
d)
Writers should be reliable in the narration of the events.
2) When the writer or his/her narrator talks
about the process of writing, it is called.......
a)
metafiction.
b)
intertextuality
c)
magic realism.
d)
unreliable narration.
3) Intertextuality refers to the technique
of...........................
a)
blending fact with fiction.
b)
Lifting words, paragraphs or even chapters from others' works and using them in
one's own work.
c)
Narrating the events from different perspectives.
d)
Involving different characters to narrate the events.
4) Which of the statements is true about deconstruction?
a)
There is a one-to-one relationship between signifier (word) and signified
(meaning).
b)
If we read a text closely, we can discover its core or final meaning.
c)
We cannot find an original or exact meaning of a literary work.
d)
Meaning is fixed and static.
5) According to postmodernists......................
a)
there is a difference between high and low literature.
b)
some literary works are superior to others.
c)
all literary works are equal.
d)
some literary works are aesthetically more important than others.
Extra MCQs
1. What does postmodernism mean in its broadest sense?
a) Before modernism
b) After modernism
c) Against modernism
d) During modernism
2. When did modernism begin and end, according to the text?
a) 19th century to World War II
b) First decade of the 20th century to end
of World War II
c) Post-World War II era
d) Early 20th century to the 1970s
3. What do postmodernists reject?
a) Boundaries between genres
b) Conventional beliefs of modernism
c) The use of signifiers
d) All of the above
4. What is the key feature of metafiction?
a) Use of intertextuality
b) Description of the process of writing
c) Fusion of fact and fiction
d) Demolition of boundaries
5. Which author's story "Autobiography: A Self-recorded
fiction" is given as an example of metafiction?
a) Gabriel Garcia Márquez
b) John Barth
c) Salman Rushdie
d) Orhan Pamuk
6. What does intertextuality refer to?
a) Blending fact with fiction
b) Lifting words from other works and using
them in one's own
c) Narrating events from different perspectives
d) Involving different characters to narrate
the events
7. Which work is given as an example of the fusion of fact and
fiction in postmodern literature?
a) "The Search Warrant" by Patric
Modiano
b) "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar
Allan Poe
c) "In Cold Blood" by Truman
Capote
d) "Socrates' Footsteps" by
Govinda Raj Bhattarai
8. What does unreliable narration refer to?
a) Narration that cannot be trusted
b) Narration that is always true
c) Objective narration
d) Narration from a third-person perspective
9. Who coined the term "unreliable narrator"?
a) Gabriel Garcia Márquez
b) Wayne Booth
c) John Barth
d) Salman Rushdie
10. Which author's story "Autobiography: A Self-recorded
fiction" is given as an example of unreliable narration?
a) Gabriel Garcia Márquez
b) John Barth
c) Salman Rushdie
d) Orhan Pamuk
11. What is the technique of fragmentation in postmodern
literature?
a) The use of incomplete sentences and
dialogues
b) The use of perfect grammar and syntax
c) The use of clear and coherent writing
d) The use of poetic language
12. Which work is given as an example of fragmentation in
postmodern literature?
a) "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar
Allan Poe
b) "2213: Exit" by Dimitris
Lyacos
c) "In Cold Blood" by Truman
Capote
d) "Socrates' Footsteps" by
Govinda Raj Bhattarai
13. What is meant by the demolition of boundaries and hierarchy
of literary genres?
a) Breaking down barriers between different
literary forms
b) Elevating one genre over others
c) Creating strict classifications for
genres
d) Exclusively using one genre in a work
14. Which author's work "In Cold Blood" is given as an
example of the demolition of boundaries between genres?
a) Gabriel Garcia Márquez
b) John Barth
c) Truman Capote
d) Salman Rushdie
15. What do postmodernists believe about high art and low art?
a) They prioritize high art over low art
b) They reject the distinction between high
art and low art
c) They consider low art superior to high
art
d) They believe high art is for the elite
only
16. What does postmodernism mean in its broadest sense?
a)
It means modernism came after postmodernism.
b)
It means it is against modernism.
c)
It means it emerged after the decline of modernism.
d)
It means it supports modernism.
17. What did modernism believe in?
a)
Perfection and completeness
b)
Fragmentation and ambiguity
c)
Multiple meanings and open-endedness
d)
Traditional values and systematicity
18. Postmodernism is characterized by the rejection of:
a)
Ambiguity
b)
Fragmentation
c)
Centrality
d)
Traditional values
19. Which of the following authors is not associated with
postmodern literature?
a)
T.S. Eliot
b)
Salman Rushdie
c)
Vladimir Nabokov
d)
Kurt Vonnegut
20. What is the literary technique in which the narrator
describes the process of writing itself?
a)
Intertextuality
b)
Magic realism
c)
Metafiction
d)
Unreliable narration
21. What is the term for the literary technique of using other
works in one's own work?
a)
Fragmentation
b)
Self-reflexivity
c)
Intertextuality
d)
Fusion of fact and fiction
22. What is the technique of blending reality with magical
elements called?
a)
Fragmentation
b)
Intertextuality
c)
Fusion of fact and fiction
d)
Magic realism
23. What is the term for a narrator whose words are not
trustworthy and should be doubted?
a)
Unreliable narrator
b)
First-person narrator
c)
Omniscient narrator
d)
Reliable narrator
24. Which technique in postmodern literature reflects the
fragmented and chaotic nature of the world?
a)
Self-reflexivity
b)
Fusion of fact and fiction
c)
Fragmentation
d)
Intertextuality
25. What is the term for breaking down the boundaries between
different literary genres?
a)
Self-reflexivity
b)
Fragmentation
c)
Demolition of boundaries
d)
Fusion of fact and fiction
26. According to postmodernists, how do they regard the
hierarchy between high and low art?
a)
They maintain and reinforce it.
b)
They emphasize high art over low art.
c)
They abolish it and consider all art equal.
d)
They prioritize low art over high art.
27. What does deconstruction challenge regarding language and
reality?
a)
It suggests a one-to-one correspondence between signifier and signified.
b)
It emphasizes the fixed relationship between words and objects.
c)
It avoids the notion of correspondence between language and reality.
d)
It promotes a singular and definite meaning of words.
28. What is the main idea of a plurality of meanings in
postmodern literature?
a)
A text has only one fixed meaning.
b)
A text has a single, universal interpretation.
c)
A text is open to multiple interpretations and meanings.
d)
A text's meaning is always clear and unambiguous.
29. Who is known for the concept of deconstruction in
postmodernism?
a)
Jacques Derrida
b)
Wayne Booth
c)
T.S. Eliot
d)
Vladimir Nabokov
30. What does deconstruction reveal in texts?
a)
The singular and absolute meaning
b)
The unity and coherence of a text
c)
Conflicts, silences, and fissures
d)
The correspondence between language and reality
B. Short Questions
1) What is postmodernism? Name some of the key postmodern
writers in English and Nepali literature.
Postmodernism
is a literary and cultural movement that emerged in the mid-20th century,
reacting against the principles of modernism. It challenges traditional forms
of art, literature, and culture, questioning notions of truth, authenticity,
and the stability of meaning. Postmodernism is characterized by a rejection of
grand narratives, a distrust of authority, and an emphasis on fragmented,
open-ended narratives.
In
Nepali literature, postmodernism gained prominence in the late 20th century
with writers like Bhupi Sherchan, who challenged conventional norms with his
innovative use of language and themes. Similarly, Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala's
novel "Sumnima" can be seen as an early example of postmodern
literature in Nepali, as it plays with the boundaries of reality and
imagination.
In
English literature, postmodernism found expression through writers like Rukmini
Bhaya Nair, whose poetry experiments with language and meaning. Indian authors
like Salman Rushdie, known for works like "Midnight's Children," and
Arundhati Roy, author of "The God of Small Things," employ postmodern
techniques to challenge established norms and tell complex, non-linear stories.
These
writers use techniques such as metafiction, intertextuality, and fragmentation
to create narratives that challenge conventional storytelling methods, inviting
readers to question and interpret their works in multiple ways. Postmodernism,
both in bazaar English and Nepali literature, has opened up new avenues for
creativity and expression, pushing boundaries and redefining the relationship
between author, text, and reader.
2) What is postmodernism? Does it focus on uniformity or
diversity? Can there be absolute truth?
Postmodernism
is a cultural, intellectual, and artistic movement that emerged in the mid-20th
century as a reaction against the principles and assumptions of modernism. It
is characterized by a skepticism towards grand narratives, a rejection of
absolute truths, and an emphasis on the complexity and diversity of human
experiences. Postmodernism challenges established norms and questions the
stability of meaning in language, art, literature, and culture.
Unlike
modernism, which often sought universal truths and principles, postmodernism
embraces diversity and acknowledges the multiplicity of perspectives. It
recognizes that there are no singular, objective truths that apply universally
to all situations and contexts. Instead, truth and meaning are considered
contingent on various factors, including cultural, social, and historical
contexts.
In
essence, postmodernism emphasizes the subjective nature of truth, acknowledging
that individuals and communities construct their own interpretations of
reality. It also values diversity of thought and expression, celebrating
different voices and perspectives. Postmodernism encourages critical thinking
and an openness to multiple interpretations of a text or work of art. It
challenges the idea that there is one "correct" way to understand or
interpret something.
3) What are the key techniques of postmodern writing? Elaborate
one of them with an example from the story or poem you have read.
Postmodern
writing employs several key techniques that challenge traditional narrative
structures and explore the complexities of language and meaning. Key techniques
of postmodern writing include:
Unreliable
Narration: Narrators with questionable credibility.
Fragmentation:
Disjointed narrative style.
Intertextuality:
Incorporating elements from other works.
Fusion
of Fact and Fiction: Blurring lines between reality and imagination.
Demolition
of Genre Boundaries: Mixing genres and subgenres.
These
techniques challenge traditional narrative structures and explore the
complexities of language and meaning. Unreliable Narration involves a narrator
whose account of events or interpretation of reality is questionable,
misleading, or distorted. This technique invites readers to question the
reliability and accuracy of the narrator's perspective, leading to multiple
possible interpretations of the text.
For
example, in Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Tell-Tale Heart," the
first-person narrator confesses to a murder. However, as the story unfolds, it
becomes evident that the narrator's mental state is unstable. He claims to be
perfectly sane, yet his erratic behavior and obsessive focus on the old man's
eye suggest otherwise. This unreliable narrator forces readers to grapple with
the uncertainty surrounding the events, blurring the lines between truth and
delusion.
The
technique of unreliable narration challenges the notion of an objective reality
and highlights the subjectivity of human perception. It encourages readers to
critically engage with the text and consider alternative interpretations,
illustrating how postmodernism disrupts traditional narrative conventions.
4) John Barth's story Autobiography: A self-recorded fiction is
a good example of metafiction. Present evidence from the story to justify this
statement.
"Autobiography:
A Self-Recorded Fiction" by John Barth is a prime example of metafiction,
a technique where the author self-consciously draws attention to the process of
writing. In this story, the fiction itself speaks to the reader, emphasizing
its own artificial nature. For instance, the narrator declares, "I have no
life unless and until you animate me," directly addressing the reader and
highlighting the reader's role in bringing the story to life. The fiction
acknowledges its dependency on the reader's interpretation.
The
narrator states, "I wish I'd begun differently," reflecting on the
act of writing and suggesting that the narrative is constructed rather than an
objective truth. This self-reflection underscores the metafictional nature of
the work.
The
story's title, "Autobiography," plays with the reader's expectations,
as autobiographies are typically non-fictional accounts of a person's life. By
labeling the work as such, Barth blurs the lines between fact and fiction,
further exemplifying the metafictional technique.
Barth's
"Autobiography: A Self-Recorded Fiction" is a compelling example of
metafiction, as it actively engages the reader in contemplating the act of
storytelling and the constructed nature of narratives.
5) When does a narrator become unreliable? Give one example of
an unreliable narrator.
A
narrator becomes unreliable when their credibility and trustworthiness are
questionable due to factors like mental instability, bias, intentional
deception, or a limited perspective. This unreliability can lead readers to
doubt the accuracy of the events or interpretations presented.
A
classic example of an unreliable narrator can be found in Edgar Allan Poe's
short story "The Tell-Tale Heart." The first-person narrator insists
on their sanity while describing their meticulous murder of an old man with a
"vulture eye." However, their obsession with the eye and their
insistence that they are not mad reveal a deep psychological instability. This
narrator's erratic behavior and distorted perception of reality render them
unreliable. Their unreliability creates a sense of suspense and tension, as
readers must navigate between what is presented and what might be the actual
truth.
In
"The Tell-Tale Heart," Poe masterfully uses an unreliable narrator to
explore themes of guilt, obsession, and the fragility of sanity. This narrative
technique engages readers in a psychological thriller, challenging them to
discern the reality behind the narrator's distorted account.
6) How does the postmodern perspective demolish the
boundaries and hierarchy of literary genres?
Give an example of a literary work that demolishes boundaries between genres.
The
postmodern perspective challenges traditional classifications and hierarchies
in literature, particularly regarding genres. It blurs the lines between
different forms of writing, allowing authors to experiment and blend elements
from various genres. This can result in works that defy easy categorization.
An
excellent example of a literary work that demolishes boundaries between genres
is Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood." Published in 1965, it is often
referred to as a "non-fiction novel." The book is based on the true
story of the brutal murder of the Clutter family in Kansas. Capote meticulously
researched the case and conducted interviews with the perpetrators, creating a
detailed account of the events.
What
makes "In Cold Blood" remarkable is Capote's narrative style, which
combines the factual reporting of a journalistic investigation with the
immersive storytelling techniques of a novel. By blending elements of
non-fiction and fiction, Capote challenges the conventional boundaries between
the two genres. The result is a work that engages readers on both an
intellectual and emotional level, offering a unique reading experience that
defies traditional genre distinctions. This postmodern approach to storytelling
allows for a more complex and nuanced portrayal of real-life events.
Best of Luck
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