Exploring Names: Notes on Onomastics and Fictionality in Marcel Proust's Remembrance of Things Past

Abstract The relationships between names and the literary imagination in Marcel Proust's Remembrance of Things Past are considered. In Remembrance, names are explored and interpreted by Proust, and the very process of this “deciphering” unfolds spectacular fictional worlds. Names are endowed wi...

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Main Author: Christian Moraru
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University Library System, University of Pittsburgh 1995-06-01
Series:Names
Online Access:http://ans-names.pitt.edu/ans/article/view/1428
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author Christian Moraru
author_facet Christian Moraru
author_sort Christian Moraru
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The relationships between names and the literary imagination in Marcel Proust's Remembrance of Things Past are considered. In Remembrance, names are explored and interpreted by Proust, and the very process of this “deciphering” unfolds spectacular fictional worlds. Names are endowed with a “geological” dimension which the narrator scrutinizes. Starting from the external, phonetic aspect of proper names, he projects, spins off an entire universe. Challenging basic principles of lexicography, Proust deliberately “confuses” proper names’ basic property and makes them generate rich, luxuriant fictitious worlds. Characteristically, names open the Proustian gate of imagination.
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spelling doaj.art-b25adc7fdb994914a01e50c6e79610aa2022-12-22T00:53:24ZengUniversity Library System, University of PittsburghNames0027-77381756-22791995-06-0143210.1179/nam.1995.43.2.119Exploring Names: Notes on Onomastics and Fictionality in Marcel Proust's Remembrance of Things PastChristian MoraruAbstract The relationships between names and the literary imagination in Marcel Proust's Remembrance of Things Past are considered. In Remembrance, names are explored and interpreted by Proust, and the very process of this “deciphering” unfolds spectacular fictional worlds. Names are endowed with a “geological” dimension which the narrator scrutinizes. Starting from the external, phonetic aspect of proper names, he projects, spins off an entire universe. Challenging basic principles of lexicography, Proust deliberately “confuses” proper names’ basic property and makes them generate rich, luxuriant fictitious worlds. Characteristically, names open the Proustian gate of imagination. http://ans-names.pitt.edu/ans/article/view/1428
spellingShingle Christian Moraru
Exploring Names: Notes on Onomastics and Fictionality in Marcel Proust's Remembrance of Things Past
Names
title Exploring Names: Notes on Onomastics and Fictionality in Marcel Proust's Remembrance of Things Past
title_full Exploring Names: Notes on Onomastics and Fictionality in Marcel Proust's Remembrance of Things Past
title_fullStr Exploring Names: Notes on Onomastics and Fictionality in Marcel Proust's Remembrance of Things Past
title_full_unstemmed Exploring Names: Notes on Onomastics and Fictionality in Marcel Proust's Remembrance of Things Past
title_short Exploring Names: Notes on Onomastics and Fictionality in Marcel Proust's Remembrance of Things Past
title_sort exploring names notes on onomastics and fictionality in marcel proust s remembrance of things past
url http://ans-names.pitt.edu/ans/article/view/1428
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