Patterns of Experience in AutobiographyEgan asks why autobiographers use patterns -- such as myths of paradise and paradise lost, the journey, conversion, and confession -- taken from fiction to express personal experiences. She suggests that these stages of the written life derive from psychological imperatives that determine how the self and the world are perceived. She examines the autobiographical works of Rousseau, Wordsworth, George Moore, and Thomas Carlyle and the writings of William Hale White, De Quincey, and John Stuart Mill. Originally published in 1984. A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value. |
Contents
Introduction | 3 |
The Inevitability of Fiction | 14 |
From Innocence to Experience | 68 |
Copyright | |
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artist autobiography becomes begins called character child childhood clear common Confessions contrast conversion course creates crisis death derives describes detail discussion dreams early Eden effect emotional essentially established example existence experience explain face fact father fear feels fiction final finds George give hand heart hero hope human identity imagination important journey knowledge leave letter literary lives London look lost maturity meaning memory metaphor Mill mind Moore myth narrative narrator nature never Newman novel once original paradise particular patterns possible Prelude present Press provides Quincey reality religious represents Rousseau Rutherford Saint Saint Augustine seems seen sense significant soul specific spirit story subjective suffering suggests takes tell things thought tion translation travels truth turns University White whole Wordsworth writes young youth