1. THE COLLECTOR by John Fowles
NOTES ON THE NOVEL’S STRUCTURE

2. Composition Is the ending predictable or unexpected?
How many chapters are in the novel? What is the function of each one?
What is the semantic* role of the diary?
*Semantic – pertaining to meaning.

3. The author and the Character
Every author draws plots and characters from his own life, personal experience or observations.
Fowles/Clegg:
A lonely childhood
An interest for nature
A loving uncle who encourages this interest
Imaginary world the boy lives in as opposed to reality

4. Levels of the Novel The plot level The symbolic level* p.249
The mythological level
pp.199, 217.
The archetypal level*
The metapoetic* level
(Allusions and quotes; interconnections with other works of art) p.158

5. Term Definitions
*Symbol usually means a material object standing for something imperceptible, especially abstract concepts.
*Archetype (in Jungian psychology) a collectively inherited unconscious idea, pattern of thought, image, etc., universally present in individual psyches.
*Metapoetics (noun), metapoetic (adjective). A phenomenon of writers/poets reflecting on literature within their own writings, that is, literature discussing itself.

6. THE COLLECTOR by John Fowles
INTERTEXTUALITY

7. Arts and Music: Questions
1. Miranda talks about art a lot. What favourite artists of hers can you name? 2. What does Miranda dislike in art and why? 3. What characters listen to Goldberg Variations? In what episode? How does the music affect them?

8. Allusions to Music and Art
Music: Requiem by
Mozart
Art:
Still Life With Apples by
Cézanne

9. Still Life with Apples by Paul Cézanne

10. Background Information and Reader’s Experience
Other texts (art, music) change/affect readers’ perception of the novel.
Example: Miranda wants to paint like Berthe Morisot. What does this add to her portrayal as a character?
Background Information and Reader’s Experience

11. The interconnection between various works of art and literature = Intertextuality
The meaning of a literary work is created with the help of other works of literature, paintings, music pieces, etc.
Referring to other works of art known to the reader gives a literary work an additional dimension.
“Books always speak of other books, and are made of other books.” (Umberto Eco)
There is a limited number of basic plots literature has at its disposal; references and allusions are unavoidable.

12. Intertextuality in The Collector
The names:
Miranda
Ferdinand
Quotes:
The Tempest by Shakespeare
“Come, thou tortoise!” (77)
Allusions*:
Caliban

13. Allusion* An indirect reference to some piece of knowledge not actually mentioned. Allusions usually come from a body of information that the author presumes the reader will know. For example, an author who writes, “She was another Helen,” is alluding to the proverbial beauty of Helen of Troy.