Virginia Ramos: "From Lyric to Lyrical Novel"

Speakers): Virginia Ramos

Virginia Ramos is a poet and fifth year doctoral student in Comparative Literature at Stanford University. She is the managing editor of the poetry journal Mantis. Her dissertation explores fusions of contemporary prose and poetry. Her interests center on poetry, lyrical novels, and multi-genre texts in Spanish, English, French and German Literatures.

Virginia's discussion of her work will be centered on several selections from her primary texts: "For the purpose of our discussion in the upcoming Poetics Workshop, I would like to share with you some ideas in progress (not yet in chapter form) from my dissertation 'The Contemporary Lyrical Novel.' I will be discussing 'cadence', 'epiphany,' and 'temporal progression' in regards to lyricism in the novel. I am interested in the linkage between musicality and poetic imagery in three contemporary lyrical novels by Yoko Tawada, W.G. Sebald, and Julio Llamazares of which I am providing short excerpts. If pressed for time, please focus on sections 1-3, and 19, from Tawada; and 1, 9, 19 for Llamazares. My project focuses on novels that join lyric and narrative and promote criticism of social realities. I am sharing with you a general research statement of my dissertation to situate you in my overall project. I look forward to our discussion and your contributions."

Marília Librandi-Rocha (Assistant Professor of Brazilian Literature and Culture) will be responding.