The Signifying Monkey: A Theory of African-American Literary CriticismOxford University Press, 1989 M12 14 - 320 páginas The Signifying Monkey is the first book of literary criticism to trace the roots of contemporary Black literature to Afro-American folklore and to the traditions of African languages. As the author examines the ancient poetry of the Ifa Oracle (found in Nigeria, Benin, Brazil, Cuba, and Haiti), he uncovers the origins of a sacred system of divination, brought to America by black slaves who felt it to be the very "heart-beat" of their souls. Gates demonstrates how a heroic and popular character called the Signifying Monkey emerged from this divination and came to pervade Afro-American culture. In providing masterful readings of literary works by Alice Walker, Zora Neale Hurston, Ralph Ellison, Jean Toomer, Richard Wright, and Ishmael Reed--and in defining how the works of these authors "signify upon" each other--the author delivers a powerful and ground-breaking work of critical theory. Many previously unpublished tales about the Monkey, as well as those already published, are collected in a detailed appendix. |
Otras ediciones - Ver todas
The Signifying Monkey: A Theory of African-American Literary Criticism Henry Louis Gates Vista previa limitada - 1989 |
The Signifying Monkey: A Theory of African-American Literary Criticism Henry Louis Gates, Jr Vista previa limitada - 2014 |
The Signifying Monkey: A Theory of African American Literary Criticism Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Vista previa limitada - 2014 |
Términos y frases comunes
African Afro-American Afro-American literary Anglo-African babalawo black texts black tradition black vernacular black writers called Celie Celie's chain chapter Color Purple criticism critique Cugoano culture defines dialect divination double-voiced Elegbara Equiano essay Esu's Eyes Were Watching fiction figure formal free indirect discourse function Gronniosaw Ibid interpretation Ishmael Reed Janie Janie's Jea's Jes Grew jigue Jody language Legba letters linguistic Lion literal literary tradition Marrant master Mawu meaning metaphor Mitchell-Kernan mode Mumbo Jumbo myth Negro novel parody play poems poetry presence Ralph Ellison reader Reed Reed's relation relationship repetition representation represents revision rhetorical strategy ritual Shug Signifyin g Signifying Monkey slave narratives slavery speak speakerly speech standard English story structure Talking Book Tea Cake tells text's theory things tion tree trickster trope voice W. E. B. Du Bois Walker Western words Wright writing York Yoruba Zora Neale Hurston