Western literature in decline

[robinlandseadel at comcast.net]

Joyce and Pynchon share principles of organizing a novel using formal structures vastly different from the normal, narrative-driven novel. Finnigan's Wake and Gravity's Rainbow are formal experiments on a grand scale. "Only Revolutions" is another example of this kind of formal experimentation. Some of those principles of organization found in Finnegan's Wake are present in Gravity's Rainbow. But in "Wake", they're on the surface. In "Rainbow", they're buried under all those Mindless Pleasures. Of course, there is some space between these two novels in many other regards. The individual, often overcrossing, stories in GR are much easier to follow than the contorted linguistic mazes of FW. But the architecture of these novels differs from most other novels, and they differ in similar ways. 
 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "David Morris" <fqmorris at gmail.com>
> Oops.  Bad typo:  Intent not Intenet
> 
> On 10/27/06, David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com> wrote:
> > I think there is an element of intenet in common.  Both authors were
> > aiming for a masterwork with an eye towards history.
> >
> > As for form, have you read the Rocketman essay linked here yesterday?
> > I think it's pretty convincing:
> >
> > > http://news.washcoll.edu/press_releases/2006/05/21_sophiekerrprize.html
> >
> > David Morris
> >
> > On 10/26/06, Steven <mcquaryq at comcast.net> wrote:
> > >
> > > You're right.  I don't see much resemblance in either intent or form between 
> GR and Finnegans Wake either.  There's an element of playfulness in both authors 
> ... pretty thin gruel there.
> > >
> > > On Oct 26, 2006, at 9:25 AM, David Morris wrote:
> > >
> > >  Well take note that you
> > >
> > > assumed "his agon with Joyce" meant Ulysses.
> > >
> > > Steven
> >
> 
> 
> -- 
> David Morris