A Conversation with John McGahern

Sampson, Denis; McGahern, John

doi:10.2307/25512848

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…I have always been fascinated by that because I actually think it is the truth, and I think that kind of repetition you are talking about in prose, if it’s successful, is the same kind of thing as refrain in verse. (Sampson, 1991: 14)…”

Section: Aspects Of Mcgahern’s Stylementioning

confidence: 99%

Repetition, difference and chiasmus in John McGahern’s narratives

Prusse

2012

Language and Literature: International Journal of Stylistics

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The fiction of John McGahern is characterized by repetitions and circular constructions but never gives the impression of labouring an issue or of repetitiveness. His narratives are frequently structured by natural cycles and by man-made repetitions. Moreover, the author resorts to recurring names, themes and settings and thus creates a unique local universe. In previous analyses of McGahern’s fiction the conspicuous cyclical constructions have been shown to be also recurrent at a micro-level within his texts in the form of chiasmus. The writer may unconsciously have imitated the chiastic structures that are typical of the Bible. McGahern’s distinct narrative style can be illustrated with examples from both his short fiction and his novels. Examples examined in this article show how the author’s frequent resorting to chiastic structuring succeeds in foregrounding specific themes or crucial moments in his narratives.

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Section: Aspects Of Mcgahern’s Stylementioning

confidence: 99%