Peter Ackroyd's Hawksmoor As A Postmodern Representation of Historiographic Metafiction
Tez Türü: Yüksek Lisans
Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Erciyes Üniversitesi, Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, İngiliz Dili ve Edebiyatı, Türkiye
Tez Danışmanı: Doç. Dr. Melih Karakuzu
Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2019
Tezin Dili: İngilizce
Özet:
This thesis aims to analyze Peter Ackroyd‟s contemporary work Hawksmoor as a
postmodern representation of historiographic metafiction, and to explain to what extent
it can be considered as a postmodern novel written in the form of a historiographic
metafiction. The postmodern literary genre of historiographic metafiction is presented
along with its general literary characteristics. This thesis is based on the close reading of
the novel in the light of the ideas of outstanding critics such as Linda Hutcheon who is
accepted as the inventor of the term “historiographic metafiction” and Hayden White
who extensively wrote on the relationship of historiography and literature. The aspects
why Hawksmoor is taken as a postmodern historiographic metafiction are revealed
based on a close reading of the book in relation with the general principles of
postmodern literature, such as intertextuality, metafiction, self-reflexiveness, parody,
pastiche and self-consciousness. Following the review of literature, the literary
characteristics of this contemporary novel Hawksmoor are explained along with its
historical background. The historical story, which is thought to be real depending on the
written sources, is duplicated with a subversion of the original one, and the novel is
presented to the readers as two mirror-like plots blended into one single story in terms
of structure. Comprising many of the techniques and themes of postmodern literature,
Peter Ackroyd‟s Hawksmoor serves as a good example of postmodern historiographic
metafiction designed with close references to a historical past re-written in a subversive
way.