Description
The Literary Portrait. Storms and Shipwrecks. Writing and Reworking
Book Summary
This collective work offers an exhaustive analysis of the literary portrait and the motif of the storm as key elements in the construction of universal narrative. Through a comparative approach, the authors explore how archetypal characters are formed, the influence of demonstrative rhetoric, and the relationship between literature and other arts such as painting, sculpture, and film. The reader will find a rigorous study that connects classical tradition with modern reworkings, unveiling the mechanisms that bring great characters to life and the crises that define their journeys.
What is it about?
The book is structured into two major thematic axes that intertwine. On the one hand, it addresses the literary portrait from a historical and theoretical perspective, analyzing how demonstrative rhetoric has influenced the creation of universal characters and genres such as biography and autobiography. It examines the reciprocal influence between literature and other artistic disciplines, showing how the portrait transcends the written text.
On the other hand, it delves into the theme of storms and shipwrecks as a metaphor for existential crisis and a turning point for travelers and protagonists. This motif is studied in its symbolic and narrative dimension, revealing how the storm acts as a catalyst for transformations and conflicts in the literature of different eras. The work connects both themes to offer a comprehensive view of the reworking of these topics throughout literary history.
Main themes
- Construction of the literary portrait and formation of archetypal characters.
- Influence of demonstrative rhetoric on the characterization of literary figures.
- Relationships between literature and other arts (painting, sculpture, film) in the representation of the portrait.
- Shipwreck and storm as motifs of narrative crisis and transformation.
- Reworking of classical topics in modern and contemporary literature.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at researchers, teachers, and students of philology, comparative literature, and literary theory. It will also be of great interest to literary critics, writers, and any reader with an advanced background who wishes to deeply understand the mechanisms of character creation and recurring symbols in Western narrative. It is an essential reference work for those studying the survival of the classics and intertextuality.
What this book contributes
- A comparative analysis that connects classical tradition with contemporary literary and artistic reworkings.
- An interdisciplinary vision that integrates literature with painting, sculpture, and film in the study of the portrait.
- Theoretical tools to understand the function of the shipwreck as a narrative crisis and its symbolism in travel literature.
- Keys to identifying and analyzing the rhetorical mechanisms that shape universal literary characters.
- A broad and detailed corpus of study that spans from antiquity to modern reworkings.
Technical specifications
- Author: Márquez Guerrero, Miguel Ángel; Ramírez de Verger, Antonio; Zambrano Carballo, Pablo Luis
- Publisher: University of Huelva
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Literary studies: classical, primitive, and medieval; Interdisciplinary studies
- Collection: Collectanea
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: January 2000
- Number of pages: 675
- Weight: 2203 g
Editorial review
This is a reference work in the field of literary studies, especially valuable for its comparative approach and thematic breadth. The combination of the analysis of the literary portrait with the motif of the storm offers an original and enriching perspective for understanding character construction and narrative crises. Although its length and density make it a specialized text, it is essential for academics and advanced students seeking a solid foundation on these topics. The paperback edition makes it easy to handle, although its considerable weight reflects the depth of the content.