Objectif
The objective of the present research proposal is to outline a general theory of the rhyme which might fully explain the
meaning of such a device, filling a very significant gap in metrics and literary theory. The research has already started with a
forthcoming article and a 3,5 months DAAD scholarship at the Freie Univestität Berlin: the present research proposal aims at
developing it into a monograph. The already written chapters concern the general theory (1-Figurative function of the rhyme;
2-Outlines of a semiotics of the rhyme) and the intertextual implications of the rhyme. The new chapters to be written from
scratch will concern: 1) the outlines of a general history of the rhyme (still lacking), from its origins up to the 20th Century; 2)
the analysis, from the outlined theoretical perspective, of the main traditional rhyming structures (terzina, ottava, sonetto,
canzone etc.) and their significance to the text; 3) an account of the partial revival of rhyme in present-day literature, in the
attempt to answer the question if rhyme is still possible today and to what extent; 4) the relation of rhyme and
psychoanalysis; 5) the question – hardy ever dealt with – of the relation of rhyme and rhyme patterns to music; 6) a survey of
the use of rhyme in non-literary text, such as nursery rhymes, pop music lyrics, advertisements, to check the validity and the
limits of the theory beyond literature and also to address a wider audience; 7) the outline of a “philosophy of rhyme”,
examining the aesthetical conception implied by such a device; 8) an analysis of the use of the word “rhyme” when it
appears in rhyme producing a metadiscourse in metrics and poetics. Besides the monograph, an important result will be the
development of a refined rhyme-search software for digitized text corpora. The research results will be disseminated also
through the web (wikies, websites, high-profile literary blogs) and through participation in workshops and international
conferences.
Champ scientifique
- humanitieshistory and archaeologyhistory
- humanitieslanguages and literatureliterature studiesliterary genresessays
- humanitieslanguages and literatureliterature studiesliterary theoryliterary criticism
- humanitieslanguages and literatureliterature studieshistory of literature
- humanitiesphilosophy, ethics and religionphilosophy
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EFCoordinateur
14195 Berlin
Allemagne