Raymond Queneau Criticism
Raymond Queneau (1903–1976) was a versatile French writer known for his innovative use of language across multiple genres, including novels, plays, poetry, and critiques. Esteemed for his mastery of colloquial speech and slang, Queneau consistently explored the dynamic relationship between written and spoken language, akin to the approach of James Joyce. His works frequently employ varied rhetorical devices and challenge traditional rhetoric through parody, reflecting a surrealist influence that revels in the absurdities of everyday life. As observed by Robert Alter, Queneau's Exercices de style demonstrates technical brilliance but lacks the depth found in Le Chiendent, which delves into complex metaphysical themes.
Queneau's novel Les Fleurs bleues, as noted by Louisa E. Jones, blends linear and cyclical perceptions of time, questioning historical narratives through language and imagination. Robert Henkels, Jr. highlights The Flight of Icarus as a witty exploration of literature, language, and genre conventions, while Robert W. Greene emphasizes the innovative poetic forms in Queneau's Morale élémentaire that challenge traditional reading paradigms. Moreover, Michael Wood associates Queneau with a playful linguistic style and a charm comparable to Nabokov, while Webster Schott views The Sunday of Life as a humorous, philosophically rich narrative influenced by Hegel, exploring happiness and absurdity. Queneau's contributions to literature display a unique blend of humor, philosophical inquiry, and linguistic experimentation.
Contents
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Queneau, Raymond (Vol. 10)
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Robert Alter
(summary)
In the following essay, Robert Alter critiques Raymond Queneau's Exercices de style for its technical brilliance but argues that it lacks the depth of human experience, contrasting it with Le Chiendent, which he praises for its complex metaphysical exploration and engagement with reality.
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Robert Henkels, Jr.
(summary)
In the following essay, Robert Henkels, Jr. analyzes Raymond Queneau's The Flight of Icarus as a multifaceted and witty exploration of literature and language, highlighting its role as a pastiche of "new novels," a historical reconstruction, and a mystery story spoof, though noting its humor can feel forced and topical.
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Robert W. Greene
(summary)
In the following essay, Greene examines Queneau's "Morale élémentaire" as a significant work that blends surrealism and linguistic experimentation, emphasizing Queneau's focus on the elemental aspects of writing through innovative poetic forms that challenge conventional reading patterns.
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Event and Invention: History in Queneau's 'Les Fleurs Bleues'
(summary)
In the following essay, Louisa E. Jones argues that Raymond Queneau's novel Les Fleurs bleues explores the metaphysics of history through a blend of linear and cyclical time, emphasizing the fictional nature of historical narrative and highlighting the role of language and imagination in shaping historical and personal experience.
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Michael Wood
(summary)
In the following essay, Michael Wood argues that Raymond Queneau's work, particularly in The Sunday of Life, is characterized by playful language, a rejection of high morality, and charming characters that defy respectability, aligning him more with Nabokov than with Céline or Joyce.
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Webster Schott
(summary)
In the following essay, Webster Schott examines Raymond Queneau's novel "The Sunday of Life," arguing that it uses humor and philosophical ideas, influenced by Hegel, to explore themes of happiness, absurdity, and the integration of life's disparate elements, ultimately challenging conventional narrative and moral norms.
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Robert Alter
(summary)
- Queneau, Raymond (Vol. 2)
- Queneau, Raymond (Vol. 5)