Midrashic Impulse and the Contemporary Literary Response to Trauma

Since the end of World War II we have witnessed countless artistic responses to the Holocaust, yet we remain unable to adequately address the atrocities. While Theodor Adorno later rescinded his comments on the barbaric nature of writing poetry after Auschwitz, The Midrashic Impulse and the Contemporary Literary Response to Trauma begins with the possibility that he was right-that his admonition against poetry warns against employing representational modes that transgress the boundaries of the ethical when it comes to the Holocaust. There is a language, other than the language of representation, with which we might speak authentically about such atrocities. This study explores what it means for the world of literature to renounce the language of representation and retain the language of witness. Drawing on the work of Emmanuel Levinas, Maurice Blanchot, Geoffrey Hartman, and others the book focuses on the increasing tendency of contemporary writers to rely on non-representational approaches to storytelling in the context of trauma. This tendency is named the "midrashic impulse" given its similarity to ancient rabbinic approaches to the silences of the Hebrew bible through the creation of Midrash.

List of contents

Introduction
1. Midrashic Reading and Trauma
2. Heir to a Glimmering Tradition: Cynthia Ozick and Midrash
3. Secular Jews and Sacred Texts: E. L. Doctorow and the Midrashic Tradition
4. Representation as Betrayal in Anne Michaels' Fiction
5. Reading Ritual in a Post-Holocaust World: Dara Horn's In the Image
Conclusion: Where do we go from here?

About the author

Monica Osborne is visiting assistant professor of Jewish studies at Pepperdine University.

Product details

• Authors: Monica Osborne
• Publisher: Lexington Books
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 06.12.2017
• EAN: 9781498564908
• ISBN: 978-1-4985-6490-8
• No. of pages: 218
• Series: Lexington Studies in Jewish Literature; Bloomsbury Studies in Jewish Literature
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > English linguistics / literary studies; HISTORY / Jewish, RELIGION / Judaism / History, LITERARY CRITICISM / Jewish, RELIGION / Judaism / Sacred Writings, History of Religion, The Holocaust, Judaism, Social and cultural history, Literary studies: general, Literature: history and criticism, Relating to Jewish people and groups, Social groups: religious groups and communities, Judaism: sacred texts and revered writings, HISTORY / Modern / 20th Century / Holocaust