Fiction, tradition and criticism in the writings of Frank Kermode (1919-).

This project focuses on the literary theory of Frank Kermode (1919-), paying special attention to the lesser-known aspects of his research and to certein themes that still shape literary studies. Even though kermode's writings played an important role in the domain of literary theory and the study of English literature, they have never been studied as a coherent body of work. Thet is unfortunate, for these texts offer stimulating answers to questions that are still central to literary studies today. First of all, The Sense of an Ending (1967) descrbes the function of fiction in a way that still proves fruitful. Additionally, studies such as History and Value (1988) offer positive definitions of notions such as 'canon' and 'tradition' in a scientific climate where these terms are often contested. Finally, Kermode's contributions to journals such as the London Review of Books illustrate his idea that literary criticism plays a crucial role in the creation of an intellectual culture for 'common readers', a claim that is corroborated by recent research into the history of literary studies. In sum, this project will describe Kermode's oeuvre and shed new light on three important themes of current criticism namely fiction, tradition and criticism.

Keywords:Frank Kermode, Fiction, Tradition, Common reader, History of literary theory and criticism

Disciplines:Language studies, Literary studies, Theory and methodology of language studies, Theory and methodology of linguistics, Theory and methodology of literary studies, Other languages and literary studies