A Study On The Defamiliarization Of The Real Life Of Sebastian Knight

Vladimir Nabokov(1899-1997),a Russian-American bilingual writer,ranks among literary giants of the world with his controversial novel of Lolita.Nabokov's bold exploration in language and literary form has subverted and innovated the traditional novel model and he has been recognized as one of the “two great literary stylists of the twentieth century” in the western literary circles and the most influential pioneer of American experimental fiction after the Second World War.The Real Life of Sebastian Knight is Nabokov's first English novel,which has won the reputation of “the milestone in English language and literature”.This thesis analyses the novel from the defamiliarization perspective of Russian formalism.In The Real Life of Sebastian Knight,the effects of defamiliarization are mainly embodied in three aspects: language,characterization and narrative techniques.On the language level,the thesis analyses the realization and artistic effect of defamiliarization in the use of mulitilinguism,word play,fantastic conceits and irony.On the characterization level,it mainly illustrates the artistic effect and value of undermining gender stereotype and the moral purpose of the text by means of reversal in male and female powers and de-moralization of characters.In the narrative technique,it discusses the parody of mystery fiction and metafiction and the narrative technique of delayed decoding,which break the linear-causal presentation.These writing techniques have produced defamiliarization effect in varying degrees,which is conducive to enhancing readers' aesthetic experience and forming a deeper understanding of the theme of the novel.Through the analysis of the writing techniques with defamiliarization in The Real Life of Sebastian Knight,this thesis reveals Nabokov's attempt to pursue freedom in art and excavates Nabokov's assertion that: people should strengthen their self-consciousness.This self-consciousness is not only reflected in the ability to think independently which includes the courage to innovate and question in the face of external things,but also in the ability to constantly reflect on their own thinking mode.By strengthening the self-consciousness,people can surpass their original self and to see a new and broader world.