The Motif Of Pursuit In David Lodge’s Experimental Fiction

As a well-known contemporary British writer and literary critic, David Lodge has made many achievements in the field of literary creation and literary criticism. Until now, He has published14novels and14books of critical theory, apart from this, his novels and critical theory nourish each other. He has multiple identities, he is not only a novelist but also a literary critic. In addition, he is not only a Catholic but also an university professor. This not only provides a solid foundation and multiple perspectives for his novels, but also allows multiple interpretations of his work becomes possible. Most of the domestic translation of Lodge’s novel are his experimental novels, and most of the researches are focus on analysis of novel forms.Therefore, this paper attempts to study of Lodge’s experimental novels from the perspective of themes and consciousness, at the same time takes the motif of pursuit as the research object. I’ll both use the text reading, comparative study and analysis of the ideology to do specific discussion, apart from this, I’ll also expound specific performance and uniqueness of the motif of pursuit and try to reveal the individual consciousness behind it.This paper is divided into five sections, includes Introduction, Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three and Epilogue.The Introduction makes a presentation on David Lodge and his experimental novels. After reviewing the critical survey of Lodge and his works both at home and abroad, it elicits the main question of this paper and further explains the significance and value of the paper. Besides, the Introduction also discriminates the important term of the thesis.Chapter One mainly uses the way of text reading to summarize the motif of pursuit in Lodge’s experimental fictions and divide it into the pursuit of faith, the pursuit of literature and the pursuit of love and sex. In the next, combined with specific text and selects representative characters in the novel to analyze, the thesis elaborates the different ways and attitudes of pursuit.Chapter Two compare the motif of pursuit in Lodge’s experimental fictions with the traditional motif of pursuit. On the one hand, it inherits the archetype of seeker and risky structure. One the other hand, it rewrites the traditional motif of pursuit by secularization and efforts to dispel significance.Chapter Three mainly explains the consciousness of reflection and balance by analyze the experience of Lodge’s life, the ideal of religion and his education. No matter how changeable the forms and skills in the novel are, there’s a special consciousness of individual in his novel which serves as a guide.The Epilogue firstly summarizes the whole paper and figures out that all kinds of pursuits in Lodge’s experimental fiction are a way to interpret the modern western society. Secondly, it points out that Lodge’s personal characteristics by compare with other writers in the same age. Lastly, it has introduced the expression of artistic in Lodge’s fiction by choosing irony and coincidence as examples.