<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> Considering that intertextuality is the text’s property of being connected to other previous texts, Julian Barnes’ novel, “A History of the World in 10 ½ Chapters”, rewrites the Biblical story of Noah’s Ark. Besides the narration accounted in the Bible, new elements are encountered here: e.g. the Ark wasn’t a simple vessel, but a small fleet; Noah butchered the animals from the Ark, animals selected initially to be saved from the Deluge; the woodworms, creatures that symbolize decay, were also present on the Ark, etc. Then, new versions of the Biblical story, all having connections with Noah, the Ark and the Sea are present. Therefore, Julian Barnes fructifies Noah’s story, readjusting it to other spaces and historic times.</p></abstract>

Considering that intertextuality is the text’s property of being connected to other previous texts, Julian Barnes’ novel, “A History of the World in 10 ½ Chapters”, rewrites the Biblical story of Noah’s Ark. Besides the narration accounted in the Bible, new elements are encountered here: e.g. the Ark wasn’t a simple vessel, but a small fleet; Noah butchered the animals from the Ark, animals selected initially to be saved from the Deluge; the woodworms, creatures that symbolize decay, were also present on the Ark, etc. Then, new versions of the Biblical story, all having connections with Noah, the Ark and the Sea are present. Therefore, Julian Barnes fructifies Noah’s story, readjusting it to other spaces and historic times.

Revisiting Noah’S Ark in Julian Barnes’ A History of the World in 10 ½ Chapters

Romanian Journal of English Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Considering that intertextuality is the text’s property of being connected to other previous texts, Julian Barnes’ novel, “A History of the World in 10 ½...

Revisiting Noah’S Ark in Julian Barnes’ A History of the World in 10 ½ Chapters

Published Online: May 01, 2014

Page range: 98 - 102

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rjes-2014-0012

Keywords
fabulation, historical knowledge, historiographic metafiction, intertextual relations, Noah’s Ark, subjectivity

© Romanian Journal of English Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Revisiting Noah’S Ark in Julian Barnes’ A History of the World in 10 ½ Chapters

Published Online: May 01, 2014

Page range: 98 - 102

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rjes-2014-0012

Keywordsfabulation, historical knowledge, historiographic metafiction, intertextual relations, Noah’s Ark, subjectivity

© Romanian Journal of English Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
fabulation, historical knowledge, historiographic metafiction, intertextual relations, Noah’s Ark, subjectivity