The Erotic Motive in Literature

Name: The Erotic Motive in Literature
Author: Albert Mordell

By Albert Mordell

Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

Essays, Letters & Speeches Literature - Other Psychiatry/Psychology Sexuality & Erotica

About This Book

This work applies psychoanalytic methods to literature, arguing that erotic impulses and the unconscious shape authors' writings. It traces how dreams, infantile love life, repressions, and inherited primal memories surface in theme, symbolism, and character, discusses the Oedipus and sibling complexes, projection, consolation, and genius as unconscious products, and examines sexual symbolism including cannibalistic motifs. Chapters consider how authors' personal emotions inform lyric and narrative texts and offer case studies of Keats, Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, and Lafcadio Hearn, concluding with reflections on integrating psychoanalysis into literary criticism.

About the Author

Albert Mordell

Albert Mordell was an American literary critic and author known for his exploration of themes related to eroticism and ecstasy in literature. His notable works include "The Erotic Motive in Literature," where he examines the role of eroticism in literary expression, and "The Literature of Ecstasy," which delves into the transcendent experiences conveyed through literary art. Mordell's writings contribute to the understanding of how emotional and sensual elements shape narrative and character development, making him a significant figure in literary criticism.