“The Past Undetonated”: Nostalgia and Storytelling in Philip Roth’s American Pastoral
This article explores the nostalgia for 1940s Newark exhibited by Nathan Zuckerman in Philip Roth’s American Pastoral. In the first part of the novel, the narrator presents an idealized version of his hometown characterized by a tight-knit community and a clear sense of order, contrasting starkly wi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Association Française d'Etudes Américaines
2016-06-01
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| Series: | Transatlantica |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/transatlantica/7677 |
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| _version_ | 1832580698235469824 |
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| author | Tanguy Bérenger |
| author_facet | Tanguy Bérenger |
| author_sort | Tanguy Bérenger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article explores the nostalgia for 1940s Newark exhibited by Nathan Zuckerman in Philip Roth’s American Pastoral. In the first part of the novel, the narrator presents an idealized version of his hometown characterized by a tight-knit community and a clear sense of order, contrasting starkly with his present situation. Although Zuckerman acknowledges the illusory nature of his fantasy, he cannot help but indulge in it. This ambivalent reaction is actually the creative spark from which the main narrative emerges. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-811111ecf40645f985046469c689f2c4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1765-2766 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2016-06-01 |
| publisher | Association Française d'Etudes Américaines |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Transatlantica |
| spelling | doaj-art-811111ecf40645f985046469c689f2c42025-01-30T10:45:56ZengAssociation Française d'Etudes AméricainesTransatlantica1765-27662016-06-01210.4000/transatlantica.7677“The Past Undetonated”: Nostalgia and Storytelling in Philip Roth’s American PastoralTanguy BérengerThis article explores the nostalgia for 1940s Newark exhibited by Nathan Zuckerman in Philip Roth’s American Pastoral. In the first part of the novel, the narrator presents an idealized version of his hometown characterized by a tight-knit community and a clear sense of order, contrasting starkly with his present situation. Although Zuckerman acknowledges the illusory nature of his fantasy, he cannot help but indulge in it. This ambivalent reaction is actually the creative spark from which the main narrative emerges.https://journals.openedition.org/transatlantica/7677narrationPhilip RothAmerican Pastoralnostalgiaillusiontemporality |
| spellingShingle | Tanguy Bérenger “The Past Undetonated”: Nostalgia and Storytelling in Philip Roth’s American Pastoral Transatlantica narration Philip Roth American Pastoral nostalgia illusion temporality |
| title | “The Past Undetonated”: Nostalgia and Storytelling in Philip Roth’s American Pastoral |
| title_full | “The Past Undetonated”: Nostalgia and Storytelling in Philip Roth’s American Pastoral |
| title_fullStr | “The Past Undetonated”: Nostalgia and Storytelling in Philip Roth’s American Pastoral |
| title_full_unstemmed | “The Past Undetonated”: Nostalgia and Storytelling in Philip Roth’s American Pastoral |
| title_short | “The Past Undetonated”: Nostalgia and Storytelling in Philip Roth’s American Pastoral |
| title_sort | the past undetonated nostalgia and storytelling in philip roth s american pastoral |
| topic | narration Philip Roth American Pastoral nostalgia illusion temporality |
| url | https://journals.openedition.org/transatlantica/7677 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tanguyberenger thepastundetonatednostalgiaandstorytellinginphiliprothsamericanpastoral |