Abstract
In contemporary literary theory, we discuss literary eventlargely withthe theoretical source of continental philosophy. This articleaims to draw an analytical philosophical picture forliterary event through Davidson's event theory. It investigates Davidsonianliterary event from two aspects. On the one hand, according to Davidson's ontology of event, the nature of literature should beseen as the particulars, and the way of discussing literature should be changed from "existence" to "happening", hence the shift from ontology of literature to performance of literature. On the other hand, literary event represents intentional literary action, and a successful literaryaction presents how the writer usesidiolects to communicate successfully with the reader. Davidsonian emphasis onintentionality in writing action and literature interpretation has crossed the limited boundary of text-centered theory, and thus has brought back literature's subjectivity. In the end, this articleinvestigates how the rupture characteristicof event could be compatible with rationalizing interpretation.
First Page
91
Last Page
100
Recommended Citation
Zhang, Qiao. 2016. "Literature through the Lens of Davidson's Event Theory." Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art 36, (6): pp.91-100. https://tsla.researchcommons.org/journal/vol36/iss6/12
