- I Novel
I-Novel (私小説, Watakushi shōsetsu, or Shishōsetsu) is a
literary genre inJapanese literature used to describe writing about oneself. This genre was founded based on the Japanese reception of Naturalism during theTaishō period . The form reflected greater individuality and a less constrained method of writing.The first "I-Novels" are believed to be "Hakai" ("Broken Commandment"), written in 1906 by
Shimazaki Toson , and "Futon " ("Quilt") written byTayama Katai in 1907. In "Hakai", Toson described a male who was born a member of a discriminated segment of the population (burakumin ), and how he decided to violate his father's commandment not to reveal his community of birth. In "Futon", Tayama confessed his affection for a female pupil. From its beginnings, the "I-Novel" was a genre that exposed the dark side of society or the dark side of the author's life.There are several general rules for the creation of an "I-Novel". The story must remain in a natural realm and must be completely realistic. The idea was to prove that language is not transparent and that a real experience can be completely portrayed with language. The formula of the protagonist must be author = protagonist = hero; therefore the author must be the protagonist of the story. The story should also express a great knowledge of literature and reference as many works as possible in relation to a character's feelings. The writing should also not be too elaborate.
Major writers included
Dazai Osamu and others."Scandal" byShusaku Endo is one of the recent examples of an "I-Novel"References
Hijiya-Kirschnereit, Irmela: "Rituals of Self-Revelation: Shishosetsu as Literary Genre and Socio-Cultural Phenomenon"; Harvard University Press: 1996
Fowler, Edward:"The Rhetoric of Confession - Shishosetsu in Early Twentieth-Century Japanese Fiction"; London: 1988
Suzuki, Tomi: "Narrating the Self - Fictions of Japanese Modernity"; Stanford:1996
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