Carnivalism and its effect on literature
"Carnivalization" is the term used by Mikhail Bakhtin to describe the shaping effect on literary genres. The idea of carnivalism is the discourse of structuralism. Carnivalism is the opposite of everything deemed "normal". Bahktin describes it as: "...the true feast of time, the feasts of becoming, change and renewal. (45)" Carnival originated from the Feasts of the Church. The feasts were a serious, formal occasion in which strict patterns were closely followed. Emphasis was placed on social standing. It was considered a "consecration of inequality (45)." However, during Carnival, everyone was considered equal. The festivities of Carnival were very popular, everything was turned upside down (the smart become stupid, rich become poor, etc.; fantasy and reality become one). "The jolly relativity of all things is proclaimed. (45)" Carnivalism is evident throughout literature, but it is very noticeable during the Renaissance. The Socratic dialogue is an exa
Bakhtin's emphasis on carnival goes against the idea that literature must be unified. He suggests that major literary works may be "multi-leveled and resistant to unification. (41)" In his essay, "Discourse of the Novel", he states "when someone else's ideological discourse is internally persuasive for us and acknowledged by us, entirely different possibilities open up.(43)" This is the case with the Wife and Falstaff. They represent the idea that life does not have to be so rigid, it is o.k. to bend the rules a bit.
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 662
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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