Link to the lesson

Before the lesson

Read a fragment of the novel „Imię róży” (The Name of the Rose) enclosed in e‑textbook.

PostmodernpostmodernismPostmodern Literature. Semiotic Thinking

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Czarno-białe zdjęcie przedstawiające Umberto Eco. Ma na sobie prochowiec i kaszkiet. Nosi okulary i brodę.

Umberto Eco
1932–2016
An Italian writer, essayist, columnist, philosopher. He was a professor at universities in Florence and Bologna. Author of best‑sellers like: Imię róży (The Name of the Rose)(1980) and Wahadło Foucaulta (Foucault's Pendulum)(1988), Wyspa dnia poprzedniego (The Island of the Day Before) (1994), Baudolino (2000) and Cmentarz w Pradze (The Prague Cemetery)(2011). Columns written in the weekly Milan magazine „L’Expresso” and collected in volumes of Zapiski na pudełku od zapałek were just as popular. Moreover, Umberto Eco is an author of significant scientific papers, such as Dzieło otwarte (The Open Work) (1962), Lector in fabula (1979), Sztuka i piękno w średniowieczu (Art and Beauty in the Middle Ages) (1994).

Imię róży (The Name of the Rose) is the most famous work of Umberto Eco. Millions of sold copies, translation in dozens languages and presence on school reading lists illustrate well the striking popularity of the book.

The novel was written in such a manner that almost everyone will find something of interest while reading it. It was the intent of the author that Imię róży could be read on several levels.

On the most basic level, the book is intended for a reader of best‑sellers, an enthusiast of thrilling intriguesintrigueintrigues. The story is shrouded in history of a mysterious book and shocking events, including several murders and suicides. Umberto Eco uses verified schemes and well‑known genres like crimecrime storycrime, detectivedetective storydetective, gothic and romance novels.

On the next level, the novel can be read as a concealed story about contemporary events. When Umberto Eco wrote the book dramatic events unfolded connected with the political terror of “Red Brigades” which murdered Aldo Moro, the leader of the Christian‑Democratic Party and three‑time Prime Minister of Italy.

The last level is more nuanced and complex. It is meant for professional readers whose literary competence enables them to recognise hidden quotes and literary allusions in the text. In this regard, Imię róży was designed to be a full realisation of an intertextualintertextualityintertextual postmodern work, created from other works.

The last feature is best illustrated by the portrayal of Wilhelm of Baskerville who holds opinions and findings of Roger Bacon, Wilhelm Ockham, Marsilius and... Umberto Eco himself. In any manner does he resemble a stereotypical medieval monkmonkmonk. He is a literary character through and through since he evokes the character of Sherlock Holmes.

Keywords

postmodernism, crime story, detective story, myth, high culture, popular culture

Glossary