Chawton Evening Lecture Event

Wonder always has been an intrinsic part of romance. Its magic boats and giants, enchantments and fairies have long formed the subject of criticism, but the other side of romance, the everyday, has received less attention. In this lecture, Professor Das will argue that while the appearance of the homely, the trivial and the inconsequential has understandably demanded less of our attention, they have an equally important function in the romance narrative. Professor Das will examine how the everyday gathers a particular significance in the romances of the late sixteenth century. Her focus will be on a cluster of texts, including Sidney's Arcadia , Lodge's Rosalynde , and Nashe's The Unfortunate Traveller , where instances of the everyday transform the possibilities of fiction.