Functions Of Paratexts In The Canonization Of Stoner

John Williams(1922-1994)is a contemporary American writer and editor.His third novel Stoner was published in 1965 and although some famous critics and writers expressed their favorable opinions on this work at that time,not until 2013 was this novel rediscovered with a large number of reprints.After that,Stoner has been translated and introduced to many foreign countries and becomes both a“best-seller” and “classic” in those book markets.The nearly fifty years of its canonization reveals various problems that literary works must face during that process.And its paratexts,changing with each reprint,play an important role in Stoner's textual meaning construction,interpretation and distribution.Paratext theories,proposed by French scholar Gerald Genette,refer to the study of textual elements that surround the main text which is then presented as a book to the public.Paratexts form the “threshold” of reading and interpretation,and Genette classifies them into “peritexts” and “epitexts” according to their spatial relationship with main text.Considering their relevance to authorial intention,“peritexts” can be classified as “authorial peritexts” and “publisher's peritexts”.“Authorial peritexts”include the title and the dedication and “publisher's peritexts” refer to cover design,preface,etc.“Peritexts” contribute to the textual meaning construction of a book,which indicate the encoding process.While “epitexts” reflect paratexts' function in adapting a work to its historical context.Spanish scholar Frias invents the concept of“paratranslation”,which is based on Genette's paratext theories,stating that the translation and digital editions of a work should also be studied as paratexts.This thesis analyzes some paratranslations of Stoner such as its Chinese translation,electronic book on Kindle,audiobook and film adaptation.Paratranslations of a work further indicate that paratexts participate in the whole course of canonization,and they provide literary analysis with an interdisciplinary perspective.This thesis discusses the function of Stoner's paratexts in its canonization through the analysis of its “authorial peritexts”,“publisher's peritexts” and thesignificant “paratranslation epitexts” in contemporary context.On the one hand,these paratexts have directly contributed to this novel's construction of textual meaning,which reveals its universal value and lays the foundation for its canonization.On the other hand,the developing media technology brings about new formats of paratexts which indicate the broad interpretation space of this novel and become updated ways for canonization.Apart from Introduction and Conclusion,this thesis consists of four chapters.Introduction summarizes John Williams and his works,presenting the current researches on Stoner and highlights the significance of this study.Chapter One offers the theoretical framework of this thesis.Firstly,the introduction of paratext theories,which mainly refers to Genette's definition,classification and functional analysis of paratexts.Frias' concept of “paratranslation”is also introduced.Secondly,it illustrates controversial topics concerning canonization.Focus will be on the question that whether textual meaning is textual inserted,that is,the “essentialism” opinion represented by Harold Bloom;or it is constructed through various external and contextual factors,which is the“constructivism” standpoint represented by John Guillory.This chapter is concluded by a discussion about the relationship between paratexts and canonization,presenting that the advantage of paratext theories for discussing Stoner's canonization lies in the fact that its interpretations are based on the materiality of a work.They function like a bridge between the internal and the external of the text.The study of Stoner's paratexts shows how paratextual elements participate in both the internal and external text of a work,which offers a comparatively objective perspective in understanding its canonization.Chapter Two is intended to analyze Stoner's authorial peritexts in order to figure out their demonstrations of its textual meaning and authorial intentions.Each change of Stoner's title reflects Williams' consideration of what is important of this novel and what should be delivered to readers as directly as possible.And Williams' dedication indicates the fictional and real background information in his novel.Readers are subtly suggested by the dedication to find prototypes of this novel which will raise their expectations and be helpful to their interpretation.Chapter Three discusses how publisher's peritexts of Stoner participate in the textual meaning construction of it and function as powerful tools for Stoner's marketing and promotion.Different cover designs are various visual presentations of Stoner,and they usually demonstrate the uniqueness or special appealing of this novel.Publisher's arrangement of the introduction by famous writer John McGahern as preface for Stoner realizes three functions of this introduction: reading guidance,recommendation and critical review.Chapter Four manifests the significant role of Stoner's epitexts in its distribution and reception by a wider readership.Under Frias' concept of “paratranslation” and theories of media communication,this chapter will analyze how paratexts influence readers' reception of its Chinese translation and how translator become visible through the changing of paratextual elements.And the appearance of Kindle edition,audiobook and film adaptation reflect changes in people's consuming,reading and recognizing habits,which require more positive interactions among publisher,literary work,its medium and readers.The content of Stoner coincidently reveals the anxieties of many contemporary critics and serious readers that media will ruin literature.But Stoner becomes a self-reflexive case for reaffirming the sublime and essential existence of “canonical works”.Media,especially the network,can generate a community for serious readers and their reviews will function as the best recommendation for qualified works.It can be concluded that through paratexts,Stoner's canonization becomes the cooperation of publisher,critics,media and serious readers.In consumer society,books are inevitably treated more like commodities.But paratexts can become the“saving grace” of literary works for their powerful influence on textual meaning construction and readers' opinions about a work.As for Stoner,paratexts reflect its rich space for interpretation and show its respect and concern for readers.Publishers and media may “create” or “promote” a work as a modern classic,but readers have the most important right in the preservation and distribution of precious canons.