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Literary theory in Thomas More’s Utopia

Literary theory in Thomas More’s Utopia. Csaba Maczelka ELLE Conference 2013, Oradea.

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Literary theory in Thomas More’s Utopia

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  1. Literarytheoryin Thomas More’sUtopia Csaba Maczelka ELLEConference 2013, Oradea ThisresearchwassupportedbytheEuropean Union and theState of Hungary, co-financedbythe European SocialFundintheframework of TÁMOP 4.2.4. A/2-11-1-2012-0001 ‘National Excellence Program’.

  2. 1.The Twoextremes “Macchiavelli’sPrince and More’s Utopia are the two great books that inaugurate modern political theory. Neither author could have foreseen how dramatically his ideas would shape modern conceptions of politics.” (Cousins-Grace: A Companionto Thomas More, 2009) “[L]iteraryutopias, regardless of the political biases of their authors, are first and foremost intellectual and literary games, created by the author who invites readers to join in, to play with him/her and enjoy themselves.” (Pintér: The Anatomy of Utopia, 2010)

  3. 2. ParatextsintheMarch 1518 Edition

  4. 3. Guillaumebudé’sletter • Now, theisland of Utopia, which I hear is calledalsoUdepotia, issaid, by a singularlywonderful stroke of fortune(ifwearetobelievethe story), tohaveadoptedthecustoms and thetruewisdom of Christianityforpublic and private life and tohavekeptthiswisdomuncorruptedeventothisday.

  5. 4. Anemolius’ poem – Typography Hexastichon (paratext 3) Closingpoems (paratexts 11-2)

  6. 5. Anemolius’ poem – Text • The ancients called me Utopia or Nowhere, because of my isolation. At present, however, I am a rival [aemulo]of Plato’s republic, perhaps even a victor over it. The reason is that what he has delineated [deliniavit] in words I alone have exhibited[praestiti] in men and resources and laws of surpassing excellence. Deservedly ought I to be called by the name of Eutopia or Happy Land.

  7. 6. Sir Philip Sidney: The Defense of Poesie • Buteven in the most excellent determination of goodness, what philosopher’s counsel can so readily direct (…) a whole commonwealth as the way of Sir Thomas More’s Utopia? (…) For the question is, whether the feigned image of poetry or the regular instruction of philosophy hath the more force in teaching. • Poesy, therefore, is an art of imitation, for so Aristotle termeth it in his word mimēsis, that is to say, a representing, counterfeiting, or figuring forth – to speak metaphorically, a speaking picture – with this end: to teach and delight.

  8. 7. The Map, theUtopianAlphabet, theUtopianpoem I alone of all nations, without philosophy, have portrayed [expressi] for mortals the philosophical city.

  9. Thankyouforyourattention!

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