From Gnomon to Parallelogram: A Geometry of Interpretation in Dubliners = From Gnomon to Parallelogram: A Geometry of Interpretation in Dubliners

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This paper tries to clarify the concept of gnomon and examine its possibility as an interpretative strategy in reading Dubliners. Gnomon is the part of a parallelogram which remains after a similar parallelogram has been taken away from one of its corners. Gnomon, therefore, is an incomplete parallelogram, a figure that would be whole were it not missing one of its corners. The gaps, ellipses, omissions, absences and silences in Joycean text frequently obstruct reader``s interpretation. Such a textual uncertainty can make readers feel frustrated in their deciphering process. A gnomonic reading is an effort to fill in those missing, unwritten parts of the text, trying to discover subtly programmed as well as deftly hidden keys and clues for interpretation. Such a reading, geometrically speaking, can be likened to making complete an incomplete parallelogram, that is, a gnomon. Gnomonic approach can be highly creative, bringing about new, radical, alternative interpretations. It requires on the reader``s part, however, to strike a balance between what is said and what is unsaid in the text. Otherwise a gnomonic reading can simply lead to idiosyncratic and irresponsible misreading. Understanding of gnomon as a narrative concept, as well as its applicability to reading, still remain controversial. But its practicality as a reading strategy is very challenging as well as promising because it could open up different textual interpretations hitherto unknown, as my gnomonic reading of Dubliners would hopefully show.