Visual Text としての Tristram Shandy
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概要
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Laurence Sterne's experimental novel, The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman exhibits some surprising and unusual pages: the black pages when Yorick dies, the marbled pages as the emblem of the work, the blank page missing a chapter and so on. These singular pages catch the readers' eye readily． This visual impact, however, is felt not only on such well-known pages but also the pages on which Tristram narrates．Although critics have often remarked on the famous visuality, little attention has been given to the layout of words on the page. The purpose of this paper is to consider the visual aspectof Sterne's use of words．The editions of Tristram Shandy issued from 1759 to 1767 is quite different from a large variety of the current． These early editions are very important because they offer one valid assumption to us: The pages demonstrate Sterne's sensitivity to the placement of words．The antithesis, for example, is placed to stand out visually：a couple words or phrases are put up and down or symmetrically on lines. It is hard to consider that it happens coincidently, because the self－conscious artistry of the decorated pages appears throughout the text． The words arranged skillfully and intricately on the page reveal nuances of the scene and the psychology of the characters．A catchword is the first word of the following page and was once printed at the right foot of every page．Sterne's catchword, however, is inventive beyond the original role．For example, it is a frequent practice to make the catchword just the same as the last word of the paget The very word is read at least three times． The catchword is chosen carefully in order to draw the reader's attention．These noteworthy contrivances of words fill Steme's pages．Tristram Shandy is a visual text whose words are placed exquisitely．
- 2009-03-31