On Interpretation in Literature

Notes by Rini Thomas, I MA English on Hermeneutics

IDEA OF INTERPRETATION

HERMENEUTICS: Science of interpretation

HERMEON: Greek messenger whose task was to go to heaven, take God’s message and to give it to the people on earth by interpreting it to them.

INTERPRETATION:

1. Understanding what the text is exactly saying.
2. Try to understand what the author means.
3. What it means in our context.

HEIDEGGER: Martin Heidegger was a German philosopher of 20^th century. He was a nazi. Theory of interpretation is taken from Heidegger philosopher. In philosophy, he is called phenomenologist. Phenomenologist believed in existence.

EDMUND HUSSURL: He was the professor of Heidegger. He began the idea of phenomenology.

HANS-GEORGE GADAMER: Heidegger’s student. He develops Hermeneutics through Heidegger’s idea. Gadamber said, “not all our knowledge is conceptual”.

PRE REFLEXIVE KNOWLEDGE: When you reflect and come to conclusion it’s called reflexive. Pre reflexive knowledge means before reflexive knowledge.

CONCEPTUAL KNOWLEDGE: Theorization

CONFLICT:

1. Scientific knowledge
2. Conceptual knowledge

REFERENCE BOOKS:

HEIDEGGER FOR BEGINNERS (UG STOCK: PHILOSOPHY SECTION)

INTERPRETATIONS (BOOK BY Joseph Dorairaj) TALKS ABOUT MYTH AND LITERATURE

LECTURES ON HEIDEGGER CAN BE FOUND IN CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY WEBSITE