Student Question
What is the function of a literary title?
Quick answer:
The function of a literary title is multifaceted: it intrigues and attracts both publishers and readers, often through cultural allusions, as seen in John Steinbeck's works. A title can create an overall impression, set a tone, and establish reader expectations, often reflecting themes or the genre of the work. For example, "The Grapes of Wrath" evokes hope and solidarity, while "East of Eden" conveys a universal and historical resonance, aligning with Steinbeck's themes.
There are several important functions of the title of a work of literature.
1. A good title is intriguing. Often the title of a work is the first step to the actual publishing of a literary work. For, if it interests the publisher, he/she will examine the manuscript. In addition, a good title will hook readers. Often writers include a cultural allusion in their titles which draws the readers' attention. For this reason, there are thousands of books that have lines from Shakespeare, famous poets, etc. as titles of their works. For example, John Steinbeck's book "The Winter of Our Discontent" alludes to lines from Shakespeare's play, Richard III:
Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this son of York;
And all the clouds that low'r'd upon our house
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.
[Richard The Third Act 1, scene 1, 1–4]
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Richard The Third Act 1, scene 1, 1–4]
2. The title is part of the overall impression for the literary work. For, instance, another of Steinbeck's novels, East of Eden, clearly creates a strong effect as it alludes to the Biblical conflict of brothers. Such a title instantly communicates to potential readers.
3. The title sets a tone and creates an expectation. In yet another example of John Steinbeck's novels, The Grapes of Wrath is a title that Steinbeck's wife thought of because its tone. In his Nobel Prize acceptance speech for this great novel, Steinbeck declared,
....Furthermore, the writer is delegated to declare and to celebrate man’s proven capacity for greatness of heart and spirit—for gallantry in defeat—for courage, compassion, and love. In the endless war against weakness and despair, these are the bright rally-flags of hope and of emulation.
His title, The Grapes of Wrath, an allusion to the lyrics of The Battle Hymn of the Republic as well as a Biblical allusion to Revelations, certainly is a rally-flag of hope just as is his novel about the fraternity of men working together to defeat poverty and isolation. Also, Mrs. Steinbeck suggested this title to counter-act the negative comments about her husband's "Red socialist ideas" in using this Christian allusion.
A champion of the workers' movement, Steinbeck himself said
I want to put a tag of shame on the greedy bastards who are responsible for this [the Great Depression and its effects].....I've done my damndest to rip a reader's nerves to rags."
So, his title creates an expectation of his theme of hope.
4. A title should convey the appropriate genre of the novel, including the time period.
With Steinbeck's East of Eden and The Grapes of Wrath there is a universality created, a novel with historical overtones, and one for all-time is suggested. These suggestions are, indeed, appropriate to Steinbeck's works.
phrase that is part of the culture, suggesting ideas