In the course of reading Graphs
Maps Trees by Franco Moretti, I experienced several different reactions. In the beginning, I was a little confused while reading the “Graphs”
chapter. I had a hard time following the information that was being presented
and I kept going back to previous passages for clarification. Initially, I just
assumed my confusion was due to my unfamiliarity with the topic. Being a “lit”
person, graphs haven’t come up too often in the courses I have taken and the scholarship
I have studied. However, eventually, I was able to make sense of the
information in the chapter and I found myself really engaged and interested in
learning more about the rise and fall of the various genres of novels in
Britain in the eighteenth and nineteenth century.
Conversely, I was completely drawn into the “Maps” chapter
of the book. From the first paragraph of this section, everything kind of “clicked”
with me. I was particularly struck by Barrell’s quote from The Idea of Landscape and the Sense of Place 1730-1840 regarding
the open-field parish geography, “for those of its inhabitants who rarely went
beyond the parish boundary, the parish itself was so to speak at the center of
the landscape. . .For those inhabitants accustomed to moving outside it, however,
and for those travelers who passed through it, the parish was. . .defined not
by some circular system of geography but a linear one” (qtd. in Moretti 38).
After reviewing the various maps in this chapter, this idea
made a lot of sense to me. When reading a novel, or short story, or any type
of narrative text, the reader’s understanding of the geography of the story is
influenced by the knowledge of the narrator. If the narrator is a permanent and
familiar fixture in a community, their knowledge of the location is circular. They
are personally familiar with the details that surround them in their day-to-day
life, and their intimate knowledge of the location lessens as distance from the
locations (in any direction) grows. However, a narrator experiencing a place as
a temporary figure just passing through only experiences and encounters
whatever they pass on the road. They generally have little to no knowledge of
the surrounding areas.
I guess the question then becomes, as Moretti suggests, how
does this perspective or knowledge add to our understanding of literature? For
me, as a reader, this type of information and this perspective of looking at
the text only enhances the reading experience. Considering the knowledge of the
narrator and their place or role in the geographic location of the story allows
me, as a reader, to better understand the story as a whole.
Works Cited
Moretti, Franco. Graphs Maps Trees. London, Verso, 2007.
I agree that graphs, maps and trees allow the reader, I think a particular type of reader, better access to the material and, in turn, a deeper understanding. I actually struggle with reading at times. This is probably an attention issue, but as I'm given a concrete picture, I'm able to escape the jumble of words momentarily and allow my mind to venture into another type of understanding of the scenario at hand.
ReplyDeleteThe above comment lists me as Unknown, for some reason. That's from Jennifer Mims :)
ReplyDeleteMy master's degree is in psychology, so I am always fascinated in the factors that influence products, such as history or the economy. I have the pleasure of having discussed something similar to Barrell's quote regarding the geography in an English literature class some years ago while reading "Mary Barton". Taking into account the perspective of others allows the reader to not only understand the words written but also imagine him or herself in the setting and situations; therefore, I completely agree with your assessment this type of information provides enhancement of enjoyment. I would also add it provides an opportunity for empathy.
ReplyDeleteAbigail Mosley
You know, maps must matter to me as well. In preparation for my women writers class, I found myself mapping out Esperanza's neighborhood (The House on Mango Street). It really gave me (then us/the class) a different experience, as Esperanza rides her bike past the corner store, the laundry mat, the "junk shop," etc. The streetlight Louis hit with his yellow cadillac. I've read/taught before, and I'd never thought to do this.
ReplyDeleteI also dig this quote: --
Barrell’s quote from The Idea of Landscape and the Sense of Place 1730-1840 regarding the open-field parish geography, “for those of its inhabitants who rarely went beyond the parish boundary, the parish itself was so to speak at the center of the landscape. . .For those inhabitants accustomed to moving outside it, however, and for those travelers who passed through it, the parish was. . .defined not by some circular system of geography but a linear one” (qtd. in Moretti 38).