This paper reinterprets Toni Morrison＇s short story Recitatif, from the perspective of frame theory in cognitive linguistics. It proposes that readers should modify their default values by activating the old and upco...This paper reinterprets Toni Morrison＇s short story Recitatif, from the perspective of frame theory in cognitive linguistics. It proposes that readers should modify their default values by activating the old and upcoming new information pieces so as to re-match the intended cognitive framing of the writer. It finally concludes that the real theme of the novel is not the strengthening of race codes but the discoloring of the White and the Black.展开更多
Toni Morrison, the Pulitzer Prize and the American Book Award winner, is a major voice in Black writing."Recitatif"is the only short story she has written, it has mainly been studied in terms of unreliable n...Toni Morrison, the Pulitzer Prize and the American Book Award winner, is a major voice in Black writing."Recitatif"is the only short story she has written, it has mainly been studied in terms of unreliable narrator, racial relations, and narratology, and related perspectives. In her short story"Recitatif", Toni Morrison reveals the dilemma and struggle of the black people as she always did in her fictions, because her works, to a large extent, are accounts of official history, hidden from which she gives voice to voiceless people. In this short story, she never points out which character is black, which is white, between who there are some rather poignant conflicts, creating many indeterminate and absent elements, as well as individual anxieties, altogether compose a big myth of the short story for the readers, which is one of Morrison's central themes in her works. Myth, together with blackness, compose"Recitatif". This short story is entitled"Recitatif", or recitative(also known by its Italian name "recitativo") is a style of delivery(much used in operas, oratorios, and cantatas) in which a singer is allowed to adopt the rhythms of ordinary speech. Recitative does not repeat lines as formally composed songs do. It resembles sung ordinary speech more than a formal musical composition. In this sense,"Recitatif"aims to tell something to the readers in a narrative way. Through analyzing indeterminacy, anxiety and absence in"Recitatif", this essay argues that Morrison shows her concerns about the condition of black people, especially black women who are under double pressures, and advocates equal treatment and respect for them.展开更多
Toni Morrison and Alice Walker, two legendary contemporary African-American writers, both are credited with contributions to bringing black literature into the mainstream and fostering a new generation of African –Am...Toni Morrison and Alice Walker, two legendary contemporary African-American writers, both are credited with contributions to bringing black literature into the mainstream and fostering a new generation of African –American authors. Both experience years that witness social upheaval like Civil Rights Movement, and they often explore similar themes. A number of their works concern issues like racism, sexism and womanism. This essay analyses womanism ideology in their two short stories—Recitatif by Toni Morrison and Everyday Use by Alice Walker.展开更多
Toni Morrison and Alice Walker are among the most outstanding female African-American writers in Contemporary American Literature. Their works have been popular since 1960s to now. Although Walker and Morrison grew up...Toni Morrison and Alice Walker are among the most outstanding female African-American writers in Contemporary American Literature. Their works have been popular since 1960s to now. Although Walker and Morrison grew up under different family environments, they had the same experience of witnessing African-American women's movements in last Century; therefore, they reached an agreement on writing thoughts and contents. For instance, they both referred to Racism, Sexism and "Womanism"in many of their works. This dissertation studies about the two authors'difference and sameness descriptions on African-American women's identities, social status, rights, powers and fates,and to express their self-consciousness and bright prospection after experiencing the most painful encounters through comparative study on two of their short stories-Everyday Use and Recitatif.展开更多
文摘This paper reinterprets Toni Morrison＇s short story Recitatif, from the perspective of frame theory in cognitive linguistics. It proposes that readers should modify their default values by activating the old and upcoming new information pieces so as to re-match the intended cognitive framing of the writer. It finally concludes that the real theme of the novel is not the strengthening of race codes but the discoloring of the White and the Black.
文摘Toni Morrison, the Pulitzer Prize and the American Book Award winner, is a major voice in Black writing."Recitatif"is the only short story she has written, it has mainly been studied in terms of unreliable narrator, racial relations, and narratology, and related perspectives. In her short story"Recitatif", Toni Morrison reveals the dilemma and struggle of the black people as she always did in her fictions, because her works, to a large extent, are accounts of official history, hidden from which she gives voice to voiceless people. In this short story, she never points out which character is black, which is white, between who there are some rather poignant conflicts, creating many indeterminate and absent elements, as well as individual anxieties, altogether compose a big myth of the short story for the readers, which is one of Morrison's central themes in her works. Myth, together with blackness, compose"Recitatif". This short story is entitled"Recitatif", or recitative(also known by its Italian name "recitativo") is a style of delivery(much used in operas, oratorios, and cantatas) in which a singer is allowed to adopt the rhythms of ordinary speech. Recitative does not repeat lines as formally composed songs do. It resembles sung ordinary speech more than a formal musical composition. In this sense,"Recitatif"aims to tell something to the readers in a narrative way. Through analyzing indeterminacy, anxiety and absence in"Recitatif", this essay argues that Morrison shows her concerns about the condition of black people, especially black women who are under double pressures, and advocates equal treatment and respect for them.
文摘Toni Morrison and Alice Walker, two legendary contemporary African-American writers, both are credited with contributions to bringing black literature into the mainstream and fostering a new generation of African –American authors. Both experience years that witness social upheaval like Civil Rights Movement, and they often explore similar themes. A number of their works concern issues like racism, sexism and womanism. This essay analyses womanism ideology in their two short stories—Recitatif by Toni Morrison and Everyday Use by Alice Walker.
文摘Toni Morrison and Alice Walker are among the most outstanding female African-American writers in Contemporary American Literature. Their works have been popular since 1960s to now. Although Walker and Morrison grew up under different family environments, they had the same experience of witnessing African-American women's movements in last Century; therefore, they reached an agreement on writing thoughts and contents. For instance, they both referred to Racism, Sexism and "Womanism"in many of their works. This dissertation studies about the two authors'difference and sameness descriptions on African-American women's identities, social status, rights, powers and fates,and to express their self-consciousness and bright prospection after experiencing the most painful encounters through comparative study on two of their short stories-Everyday Use and Recitatif.
