Experimentation Of Literature Writing:on The Postmodern Features In The Book Of Illusions By Paul Auster

Paul Auster(1947-)has been named as one of the most innovative contemporary writers in the United States.The Book of Illusions as his masterpiece,reveals that in this novel Auster experimentally combines postmodern techniques with literature writing,which is the experimentation of literature writing.By means of close reading,this thesis,is going to analyze the postmodern features as demonstrated in Paul Auster's The Book of Illusions.The postmodern features analyzed in the thesis including the appliance of indeterminacy,transgression of different literary genres and the embedded narratives.The analyses would undoubtedly help the readers to better understand and appreciate the postmodern features in Paul Auster's works.The thesis consists of five chapters.Chapter one is the introduction of this thesis,which is but a brief introduction to Paul Auster,the synopsis of the story and literature review,the intention and significance of this thesis.And it also generally introduces postmodernism and some features of postmodern literature.Chapter two discusses the feature of indeterminacy in The Book of Illusions,which explores the embodiment of indeterminacy reflected in this novel from indeterminacy of the plot and the identity.Chapter three studies the feature of transgression of different literary genres in The Book of Illusions.In this novel,Auster integrates the forms of autobiographical fiction with metaphysical detective novel,aiming to reflect the characteristics of anti-genre and blurring the boundary between elite literature and popular literature in postmodernist fiction.Chapter four focuses on the embedded narrative technique of the novel.In this novel Auster applies it to build a narrative labyrinth,and then breaks it himself in order to blur the boundary between reality and fictionality.Chapter five is the conclusion of the thesis,which further explains the research significance.Through the analysis on the postmodern features reflected in this novel,it reveals that Auster breaks the stereotypes in traditional literary writing,which is dominated by rationality,closeness,pure genre and advocates the authority of the author.Through coincidence to promote the plot development and reflecting the indeterminacy of the character's identity,it reveals the essence of indeterminacy in our real life.Through the transgression of different literary genres,Auster blurs the boundary between elite literature and popular literature,which breaks the stereotypes of the pure genre in traditional literature,and reflects the pluralism and anti-genre feature in postmodern literature.By means of embedded narrative,that is the story-within-story structure,he constructs the narrative labyrinth.At the same time,he breaks the narrative labyrinth by juxtaposing fact and fiction,using the self-deconstructing language,and blurring the boundary between different narrative layers,which makes the reader realize the fictionality of the novel,and breaks the conventional view of the author's authority in traditional literature.Meanwhile,through the postmodern techniques of indeterminacy,transgression of different literary genres and the embedded narrative,he constructs a world full of uncertainty,irrationality and like a maze,which are the essence of postmodern society;and in such a world full of unpredictability,irrationality and like a labyrinth,people constantly feel helpless,at a loss,isolated and hopeless.