Kairos In Literature

Kairos in Literature: Mastering the Art of Persuasive Timing

Introduction:

Have you ever read a piece of literature that resonated deeply, not just because of its message, but because it was said at precisely the right moment? That’s the power of kairos, a rhetorical concept often overlooked but crucial to understanding the effectiveness of persuasive writing and impactful storytelling. This comprehensive guide will delve into the nuanced world of kairos in literature, exploring its definition, applications, and impact on both the author and the audience. We'll examine various literary examples, dissect how kairos operates, and ultimately equip you to recognize and utilize this potent rhetorical tool in your own writing. Prepare to unlock a deeper appreciation for the art of persuasive timing and the subtle nuances that elevate a good story to a truly memorable one.


1. Defining Kairos: More Than Just Timing

Kairos, unlike its often-confused counterpart chronos (chronological time), isn't simply about when something happens. It's about the appropriateness of the moment – the perfect confluence of circumstance, audience, and message. It's the art of seizing the opportune moment, of saying the right thing at the right time in the right way. In literature, this translates to crafting scenes, dialogue, and even plot points that resonate with maximum impact due to their precise placement within the narrative. A poorly timed reveal, for example, can diminish the effect of a powerful plot twist, while a perfectly timed one can leave the reader breathless. Understanding kairos requires a keen awareness of context and the subtle dynamics between author, text, and audience.


2. Kairos in Action: Examples from Literature

Let's explore some concrete examples to illustrate the power of kairos.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech: Delivered during the Civil Rights Movement, this speech wasn't just powerful in its message; its timing was crucial. Delivered at the March on Washington, at a pivotal moment in the struggle for racial equality, the speech's impact was amplified exponentially. The kairos of the moment made it a defining moment in American history.

The climax of Shakespeare's Hamlet: The play's climax, with its cascade of deaths, isn't just a thrilling sequence of events; it's strategically placed to maximize dramatic impact. The long-awaited resolution, arriving after a period of suspense and uncertainty, leverages kairos to deliver a devastating and unforgettable conclusion.

The unexpected twist in a mystery novel: A well-placed twist, revealed at the precise moment of maximum suspense, utilizes kairos to shock and intrigue the reader. A poorly timed reveal, however, might feel anticlimactic or even disruptive to the narrative flow.


3. The Elements of Kairos: Context, Audience, and Message

Mastering kairos involves understanding its three core components:

Context: The historical, social, and cultural backdrop against which the text is written and received. Understanding the context is critical to assessing the appropriateness of the message and its timing.

Audience: The intended readership or viewers. A message appropriate for one audience might be completely inappropriate for another. Kairos necessitates tailoring the message to resonate with the specific audience's values, beliefs, and expectations.

Message: The content and tone of the communication itself. The message must be not only relevant but also delivered in a way that aligns with the context and resonates with the audience.


4. Kairos and the Author's Craft: Intention and Impact

The author's deliberate use of kairos is a testament to their skill and understanding of their craft. It involves careful planning, a deep awareness of their audience, and a sensitive understanding of the broader social and historical context. The impact of a well-executed kairos can be profound, leaving a lasting impression on the reader long after they've finished the book or poem. Conversely, a failure to recognize or utilize kairos can lead to a lackluster or even ineffective piece of writing.


5. Kairos and the Reader's Experience: Resonance and Interpretation

The reader's experience of kairos is equally important. A reader's personal context, beliefs, and experiences will shape their interpretation of the timing and appropriateness of a message. What resonates deeply with one reader might fall flat for another. This subjective element highlights the complexity and multifaceted nature of kairos.



Sample Book Outline: "Kairos: The Art of Persuasive Timing in Literature"

Introduction: Defining Kairos and its importance in literature.
Chapter 1: Historical Context of Kairos: Tracing its origins in rhetoric and its evolution in literature.
Chapter 2: Analyzing Kairos in Different Genres: Exploring examples from poetry, novels, drama, and speeches.
Chapter 3: The Elements of Kairos: A deeper dive into context, audience, and message.
Chapter 4: Kairos and Authorial Intent: Examining how authors consciously (or unconsciously) utilize kairos.
Chapter 5: Kairos and Reader Response: Exploring the subjective experience of kairos.
Chapter 6: Practical Application of Kairos in Writing: Tips and techniques for writers to utilize kairos in their own work.
Chapter 7: Kairos in the Digital Age: Examining the impact of social media and online communication on the concept of kairos.
Conclusion: The enduring power of kairos and its relevance to contemporary literature.


(Detailed explanation of each chapter would follow here, expanding upon the brief outline above. This would involve specific examples from literature and detailed analysis.)


FAQs:

1. What is the difference between kairos and chronos? Chronos refers to chronological time, while kairos refers to the opportune moment, the appropriateness of timing.

2. How can I identify kairos in a literary work? Look for moments where the timing of an event, revelation, or speech significantly impacts its effect on the reader or narrative.

3. Is kairos solely dependent on the author's intention? No, the reader's interpretation and context also play a crucial role.

4. Can kairos be used in all genres of literature? Yes, it’s applicable across genres, from poetry to novels to drama.

5. How can I improve my use of kairos in my own writing? Consider your audience, context, and carefully plan the placement of key moments in your narrative.

6. Can a poorly timed element ruin a story? Absolutely, a misplaced reveal or poorly timed dialogue can significantly reduce impact.

7. What is the relationship between kairos and ethos/pathos/logos? Kairos works in conjunction with other rhetorical appeals, enhancing their effectiveness.

8. Is kairos more important in fiction or non-fiction? Both genres benefit from strategically timed elements, though the application may differ.

9. How does kairos relate to the concept of "timing" in other fields? The principle of opportune moments applies widely, in business, politics, and everyday life.


Related Articles:

1. Rhetorical Appeals: Ethos, Pathos, Logos: A discussion of the three classical rhetorical appeals and their relationship to kairos.

2. The Art of Storytelling: An exploration of narrative techniques and how kairos contributes to effective storytelling.

3. Analyzing Literary Techniques: A guide to identifying and interpreting various literary devices, including those that leverage kairos.

4. The Impact of Context on Literary Interpretation: An examination of how historical and cultural contexts shape the understanding of literary works and the effectiveness of kairos.

5. Mastering the Art of Persuasion: Techniques for effective persuasion in writing and speaking, with a focus on the strategic use of kairos.

6. Writing Effective Speeches: A guide to crafting impactful speeches, incorporating the principle of kairos for maximum effect.

7. Understanding Narrative Structure: An analysis of different narrative structures and how kairos can be utilized within them.

8. The Role of Audience in Literary Analysis: A discussion of how the intended audience shapes the interpretation and effectiveness of a literary work, particularly concerning kairos.

9. Modern Applications of Classical Rhetoric: An exploration of how classical rhetorical concepts, including kairos, are still relevant in contemporary communication.


  kairos in literature: Rhetoric and Kairos Phillip Sipiora, James S. Baumlin, 2012-02-01 This collection offers the first comprehensive discussion of the history, theory, and pedagogical applications of kairos, a seminal and recently revised concept of classical rhetoric. Augusto Rostagni, James L. Kinneavy, Richard Leo Enos, John Poulakos, and John E. Smith are among the international list of scholars who explore the Homeric and literary origins of kairos, the technologies of time-keeping in antiquity, the role of right-timing in Hippocratic medicine, the improvisations of Gorgias, as well as the uses of kairos in Isocrates, Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, and the New Testament. Broad in its scope, the book also examines the distinctive philosophies of time reflected in Renaissance Humanism, Nineteenth-Century American Transcendentalism, Oriental art and ritual, and the application of kairos to contemporary philosophy, ethics, literary criticism, rhetorical theory, and composition pedagogy.
  kairos in literature: Rhetoric and Kairos Phillip Sipiora, James S. Baumlin, 2002-01-17 The first comprehensive discussion of the history, theory, and practice of kairos: that is of the role “timeliness” or “right-timing” plays in human deliberation, speech, and action.
  kairos in literature: Children's Literature as Communication Roger D. Sell, 2002-01-01 In this book, members of the ChiLPA Project explore the children's literature of several different cultures, ranging from ancient India, nineteenth century Russia, and the Soviet Union, to twentieth century Britain, America, Australia, Sweden, and Finland. The research covers not only the form and content of books for children, but also their potential social functions, especially within education. These two perspectives are brought together within a theory of children's literature as one among other forms of communication, an approach that sees the role of literary scholars, critics and teachers as one of mediation. Part I deals with the way children's writers and picturebook-makers draw on a culture's available resources of orality, literacy, intertextuality, and image. Part II examines their negotiation of major issues such as the child adult distinction, gender, politics, and the Holocaust. Part III discusses children's books as used within language education programmes, with particular attention to young readers' pragmatic processing of differences between the context of writing and their own context of reading.
  kairos in literature: Kairos: Phenomenology and Photography Cheung, Chan-fai, 2010-01-01
  kairos in literature: Rhetoric's Earthly Realm Bernard Alan Miller, 2011-05-07 Plato privileges the realm of absolute reality and truth above and beyond the world of language, discourse, and rhetoric. For Plato, earth harbors the façade of mere appearances and the evils of the bewitching powers of language. In RHETORIC’S EARTHLY REALM: HEIDEGGER, SOPHISTRY, AND THE GORGIAN KAIROS, Bernard Alan Miller counters this intellectual legacy with an innovative and thoroughly conceived theory of rhetoric, one concerned with “earth” in its Heideggerian aspect, complex and multifaceted, at the root of a phenomenology placing the focus on earth as the power of Being itself, whereby it is manifest purely as language.
  kairos in literature: A Rhetoric of Doing Stephen Paul Witte, Neil Nakadate, Roger Dennis Cherry, 1992 Concerned with both the nature and the practice of discourse, the eighteen essays collected here treat rhetoric as a dynamic enterprise of inquiry, exploration, and application, and in doing so reflect James L. Kinneavy’s firm belief in the vital relationship between theory and practice, his commitment to a spirit of accommodation and assimilation that promotes the development of ever more powerful theories and ever more useful practices. A thorough introduction provides the reader with clear summaries of the essays by leading-edge theorists, researchers, and teachers of writing and rhetoric. A field context for the ideas presented in this book is provided through the division of the various chapters into four major sections that focus on classical rhetoric and rhetorical theory in historical contexts; on dimensions of discourse theory, aspects of discourse communities, and the sorts of knowledge people access and use in producing written texts; on writing in school-related contexts; and on several dimensions of nonacademic writing. A fifth section contains a bibliographic survey and an appreciation of James Kinneavy’s work. The exceptional range of these essays makes A Rhetoric of Doing an ecumenical examination of the current state of mind in rhetoric and written communication, a survey and description of what discourse and those in the field of discourse are, in fact, doing.
  kairos in literature: Kairos Ulysse Malassagne, 2020-05-05 In Kairos, French graphic novelist Ulysse Malassagne turns the typical damsel-in-distress narrative on its head. With stunning art, epic battle scenes, and unexpected plot twists, Kairos forces you to question where to draw the line between hero and antihero. Nills and Anaelle are looking forward to their first night in their rustic cabin in the woods. But the couple’s idyllic vacation is suddenly thrown into turmoil when a strange flash of light bursts from the fireplace. A portal appears, and out of it spill dragon-like creatures that are armed to the teeth. They grab Anaelle and flee back through the portal, leaving a distraught Nills with a sudden decision: stay behind, or leap through after her? He leaps. And that’s when things get really weird.
  kairos in literature: The Value of Time in Early Modern English Literature Tina Skouen, 2017-10-02 The stigma of haste pervaded early modern English culture, more so than the so-called stigma of print. The period’s writers were perpetually short on time, but what does it mean for authors to present themselves as hasty or slow, or to characterize others similarly? This book argues that such classifications were a way to define literary value. To be hasty was, in a sense, to be irresponsible, but, in another sense, it signaled a necessary practicality. Expressions of haste revealed a deep conflict between the ideal of slow writing in classical and humanist rhetoric and the sometimes grim reality of fast printing. Indeed, the history of print is a history of haste, which carries with it a particular set of modern anxieties that are difficult to understand in the absence of an interdisciplinary approach. Many previous studies have concentrated on the period’s competing definitions of time and on the obsession with how to use time well. Other studies have considered time as a notable literary theme. This book is the first to connect ideas of time to writerly haste in a richly interdisciplinary manner, drawing upon rhetorical theory, book history, poetics, religious studies and early modern moral philosophy, which, only when taken together, provide a genuinely deep understanding of why the stigma of haste so preoccupied the early modern mind. The Value of Time in Early Modern English Literature surveys the period from ca 1580 to ca 1730, with special emphasis on the seventeenth century. The material discussed is found in emblem books, devotional literature, philosophical works, and collections of poetry, drama and romance. Among classical sources, Horace and Quintilian are especially important. The main authors considered are: Robert Parsons; Edmund Bunny; King James 1; Henry Peacham; Thomas Nash; Robert Greene; Ben Jonson; Margaret Cavendish; John Dryden; Richard Baxter; Jonathan Swift; Alexander Pope. By studying these writers’ expressions of time and haste, we may gain a better understanding of how authorship was defined at a time when the book industry was gradually taking the place of classical rhetoric in regulating writers’ activities.
  kairos in literature: The Art Of Rhetoric Aristotle, 2014-09-02 In The Art of Rhetoric, Aristotle demonstrates the purpose of rhetoric—the ability to convince people using your skill as a speaker rather than the validity or logic of your arguments—and outlines its many forms and techniques. Defining important philosophical terms like ethos, pathos, and logos, Aristotle establishes the earliest foundations of modern understanding of rhetoric, while providing insight into its historic role in ancient Greek culture. Aristotle’s work, which dates from the fourth century B.C., was written while the author lived in Athens, remains one of the most influential pillars of philosophy and has been studied for centuries by orators, public figures, and politicians alike. HarperTorch brings great works of non-fiction and the dramatic arts to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperTorch collection to build your digital library.
  kairos in literature: The Kairos Mechanism Kate Milford, 2012 When two brothers walk into town bearing the corpse of a man who disappeared half a century before, it's not long before Natalie Minks finds herself entangled in the task that brought the boys to Arcane with their grisly burden - an undertaking which somehow involves the mysterious Simon Coffrett. Meanwhile a vicious peddler maned Trigemine waits with terrible and deadly penalties at the ready, should Natalie and her new friends fail ...
  kairos in literature: Greenglass House Kate Milford, 2014 A rambling old smuggler's inn, a strange map, an attic packed with treasures, squabbling guests, theft, friendship, and an unusual haunting mark this smart mystery in the tradition of the Mysterious Benedict Society books. Illustrations.
  kairos in literature: Essays on Medieval German Literature and Iconography F. P. Pickering, 1980-03-06 This 1980 book contains a selection of twelve essays spanning the period 1953-1977, three of which are translated. The essays in the volume concern medieval ideas of fate, fortune and history, and the persuasive influence of the Consolation of Philosophy of Boethius.
  kairos in literature: The Rhetoric of Failure Ewa P?onowska Ziarek, 1995-01-01 'This book makes a significant and needed contribution to post-structural philosophy and literary theory. In this impressive analysis that delicately weaves together philosophical and literary texts, Ewa Ziarek powerfully and persuasively demonstrates that the rhetoric of the failure of traditional subject-centered rationality does not lead to nihilism or nominalism.'-Kelly Oliver, University of Texas at Austin
  kairos in literature: The Kairos and the Amazing Mystery of Zionica Michelle Isabella Cashin, 2015-09-26
  kairos in literature: Halfbreed Maria Campbell, 2019-11-05 A new, fully restored edition of the essential Canadian classic. An unflinchingly honest memoir of her experience as a Métis woman in Canada, Maria Campbell's Halfbreed depicts the realities that she endured and, above all, overcame. Maria was born in Northern Saskatchewan, her father the grandson of a Scottish businessman and Métis woman--a niece of Gabriel Dumont whose family fought alongside Riel and Dumont in the 1885 Rebellion; her mother the daughter of a Cree woman and French-American man. This extraordinary account, originally published in 1973, bravely explores the poverty, oppression, alcoholism, addiction, and tragedy Maria endured throughout her childhood and into her early adult life, underscored by living in the margins of a country pervaded by hatred, discrimination, and mistrust. Laced with spare moments of love and joy, this is a memoir of family ties and finding an identity in a heritage that is neither wholly Indigenous or Anglo; of strength and resilience; of indominatable spirit. This edition of Halfbreed includes a new introduction written by Indigenous (Métis) scholar Dr. Kim Anderson detailing the extraordinary work that Maria has been doing since its original publication 46 years ago, and an afterword by the author looking at what has changed, and also what has not, for Indigenous people in Canada today. Restored are the recently discovered missing pages from the original text of this groundbreaking and significant work.
  kairos in literature: Origen: Philosophy of History & Eschatology Panayiotis Tzamalikos, 2007-05-31 A common accusation made against Origen is that he dissolves history into intellectual abstraction and that his eschatology (if this is recognized at all) is notoriously obscure. In this new work, the author draws on an impressive range of bibliography to consider Origen’s Philosophy of History and Eschatology in the widest context of facts, documents and streams of thought, including Classical and Late Antiquity Greek Philosophy, Gnosticism, Hebraism and Patristic Thought, both before Origen and well after his death. Against claims that he causes history to evaporate into barren idealism, his thought is shown to be firmly grounded on his particular vision of historical occurences. Confronting assertions that Origen has no eschatological ideas, his eschatology is shown rather to have made a distinctive mark throughout his works, both explicitly and tacitly. In Origen’s view, history was the foundation of scriptural interpretation, a teleological process determined by factors and functions such as providence – prophecy – promise – expectation – realization – anticipation – faith – anticipation – hope – awaiting for – fulfilment – end. Since 1986, the author has argued for the unpopular thesis that Origen is, in many respects, an anti-Platonist. Nevertheless, the author casts light upon the Aristotelian rationale of Origen’s doctrine of apokatastasis, arguing that its validity is bolstered by ontological rather than historical premises. The extent of Origen’s influence upon what is currently regarded as ‘orthodoxy’ turns out to be far wider and more profound than has hitherto been acknowledged.
  kairos in literature: The Available Means of Persuasion David M. Sheridan, Jim Ridolfo, 2012-03-19 From the beginning, rhetoric has been a productive and practical art aimed at preparing citizens to participate in communal life. Possibilities for this participation are continually evolving in light of cultural and technological changes. The Available Means of Persuasion: Mapping a Theory and Pedagogy of Multimodal Public Rhetoric explores the ways that public rhetoric has changed due to emerging technologies that enable us to produce, reproduce, and distribute compositions that integrate visual, aural, and alphabetic elements. David M. Sheridan, Jim Ridolfo, and Anthony J. Michel argue that to exploit such options fully, rhetorical theory and pedagogy need to be reconfigured.
  kairos in literature: Digital Rhetoric Douglas Eyman, 2015-06 A survey of a range of disciplines whose practitioners are venturing into the new field of digital rhetoric, examining the history of the ways digital and networked technologies inhabit and shape traditional rhetorical practices as well as considering new rhetorics made possible by current technologies
  kairos in literature: Beyond the Periphery of the Skin Silvia Federici, 2020-01-01 More than ever, “the body” is today at the center of radical and institutional politics. Feminist, antiracist, trans, ecological movements—all look at the body in its manifold manifestations as a ground of confrontation with the state and a vehicle for transformative social practices. Concurrently, the body has become a signifier for the reproduction crisis the neoliberal turn in capitalist development has generated and for the international surge in institutional repression and public violence. In Beyond the Periphery of the Skin, lifelong activist and best-selling author Silvia Federici examines these complex processes, placing them in the context of the history of the capitalist transformation of the body into a work-machine, expanding on one of the main subjects of her first book, Caliban and the Witch. Building on three groundbreaking lectures that she delivered in San Francisco in 2015, Federici surveys the new paradigms that today govern how the body is conceived in the collective radical imagination, as well as the new disciplinary regimes state and capital are deploying in response to mounting revolt against the daily attacks on our everyday reproduction. In this process she confronts some of the most important questions for contemporary radical political projects. What does “the body” mean, today, as a category of social/political action? What are the processes by which it is constituted? How do we dismantle the tools by which our bodies have been “enclosed” and collectively reclaim our capacity to govern them?
  kairos in literature: The End of Days Jenny Erpenbeck, 2016-02-08 Winner of the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize for the best translated novel of 2014, now a New Directions paperback Winner of the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize and the Hans Fallada Prize, The End of Days, by the acclaimed German writer Jenny Erpenbeck, consists essentially of five “books,” each leading to a different death of the same unnamed female protagonist. How could it all have gone differently?—the narrator asks in the intermezzos. The first chapter begins with the death of a baby in the early twentieth-century Hapsburg Empire. In the next chapter, the same girl grows up in Vienna after World War I, but a pact she makes with a young man leads to a second death. In the next scenario, she survives adolescence and moves to Russia with her husband. Both are dedicated Communists, yet our heroine ends up in a labor camp. But her fate does not end there…. A novel of incredible breadth and amazing concision, The End of Days offers a unique overview of the twentieth century.
  kairos in literature: Teaching Literature Rhetorically Jennifer Fletcher, 2023-10-10 English language arts teachers often find themselves defending their discipline and the practical values it has. When will I read this again? is an all too common question heard in classrooms. Author Jennifer Fletcher faced the same questions and more. In Teaching Literature Rhetorically: Transferable Literacy Skills for 21st Century Students she shows you how to help your students develop transferable literacy skills that allow them to succeed not just in their English language arts classes, but in their future lives and careers. The book is built around eight high-utility literacy skills and practices that will help students communicate effectively and with confidence as they navigate important transitions in their lives: Integrating skills and knowledge from texts Reading closely and critically Assessing rhetorical situations Negotiating different perspectives Developing and supporting a line of reasoning Analyzing genres Communicating with self and others in mind Reading and writing with passion Teaching Literature Rhetorically offers readers writing prompts, readings, discussion questions, graphic organizers, as well as examples of student work and activities for helping students to understand key rhetorical concepts. As Fletcher writes in her introduction rhetorical thinking promotes the transfer of learning — the single most important goal we can have as teachers if we hope to have a positive impact on our students’ lives. This book will help teachers everywhere do just that.
  kairos in literature: Beyond the Frontier, Volume II Jill Dahlman, Tammy Winner, 2018-11-08 This collection of essays is a compilation of the latest research in first-year composition, including pedagogy, praxis, debate, and assessment. Originally begun as a collection of panel presentations from the Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association annual conference, it has since evolved to include innovative pedagogy regardless of presentation status. The book is divided into presentation “panels,” in order to present the reader with innovative pedagogy and thought-provoking conversations concerning the first-year classroom, assessment, and pedagogy. It will benefit anyone who studies or engages with first-year composition, including graduate students, instructors, and administration.
  kairos in literature: Visitation Jenny Erpenbeck, 2010-09-30 A bestseller in Germany, Visitation has established Jenny Erpenbeck as one of Europe’s most significant contemporary authors. A forested property on a Brandenburg lake outside Berlin lies at the heart of this darkly sensual, elegiac novel. Encompassing over one hundred years of German history, from the nineteenth century to the Weimar Republic, from World War II to the Socialist German Democratic Republic, and finally reunification and its aftermath, Visitation offers the life stories of twelve individuals who seek to make their home in this one magical little house. The novel breaks into the everyday life of the house and shimmers through it, while relating the passions and fates of its inhabitants. Elegant and poetic, Visitation forms a literary mosaic of the last century, tearing open wounds and offering moments of reconciliation, with its drama and its exquisite evocation of a landscape no political upheaval can truly change.
  kairos in literature: About Writing Robin Jeffrey, 2016
  kairos in literature: Kairos Jenny Erpenbeck, 2023-06-06 Jenny Erpenbeck’s much anticipated new novel Kairos is a complicated love story set amidst swirling, cataclysmic events as the GDR collapses and an old world evaporates Jenny Erpenbeck (the author of Go, Went, Gone and Visitation) is an epic storyteller and arguably the most powerful voice in contemporary German literature. Erpenbeck’s new novel Kairos—an unforgettably compelling masterpiece—tells the story of the romance begun in East Berlin at the end of the 1980s when nineteen-year-old Katharina meets by chance a married writer in his fifties named Hans. Their passionate yet difficult long-running affair takes place against the background of the declining GDR, through the upheavals wrought by its dissolution in 1989 and then what comes after. In her unmistakable style and with enormous sweep, Erpenbeck describes the path of two lovers, as Katharina grows up and tries to come to terms with a not always ideal romance, even as a whole world with its own ideology disappears. As the Times Literary Supplement writes: “The weight of history, the particular experiences of East and West, and the ways in which cultural and subjective memory shape individual identity has always been present in Erpenbeck’s work. She knows that no one is all bad, no state all rotten, and she masterfully captures the existential bewilderment of this period between states and ideologies.” In the opinion of her superbly gifted translator Michael Hofmann, Kairos is the great post-Unification novel. And, as The New Republic has commented on his work as a translator: “Hofmann’s translation is invaluable—it achieves what translations are supposedly unable to do: it is at once ‘loyal’ and ‘beautiful.’”
  kairos in literature: Re-enchanting the World Silvia Federici, 2018-11-01 Silvia Federici is one of the most important contemporary theorists of capitalism and feminist movements. In this collection of her work spanning over twenty years, she provides a detailed history and critique of the politics of the commons from a feminist perspective. In her clear and combative voice, Federici provides readers with an analysis of some of the key issues and debates in contemporary thinking on this subject. Drawing on rich historical research, she maps the connections between the previous forms of enclosure that occurred with the birth of capitalism and the destruction of the commons and the “new enclosures” at the heart of the present phase of global capitalist accumulation. Considering the commons from a feminist perspective, this collection centers on women and reproductive work as crucial to both our economic survival and the construction of a world free from the hierarchies and divisions capital has planted in the body of the world proletariat. Federici is clear that the commons should not be understood as happy islands in a sea of exploitative relations but rather autonomous spaces from which to challenge the existing capitalist organization of life and labor.
  kairos in literature: Literature, Cultural Politics and Counter-Readings Anindya Sekhar Purakayastha, 2021-06-09 This book is an attempt at deconstructive counter-reading or at what Jonathan Dollimore called “creative vandalism” (2018) of existing cultural or literary texts. Deconstruction is a much maligned or a much misunderstood word and for many, it usually bears a pejorative ring. While most would flaunt their familiarity with some of its philosophic jargons, for the majority, it is an area to be dismissed as intellectual obscurity or abstruse ‘high theory’. In fact there is a serious dearth of Derrida scholarship because of our collective aversion to Derrida that emanates from our lack of familiarity or engagement with deconstruction theory or with the philosophy of deconstruction. Norm-deviant reading strategies of deconstruction offer fresh insights and rebellious interpretative possibilities. Please note: Taylor & Francis does not sell or distribute the Hardback in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
  kairos in literature: Homer and the Dual Model of the Tragic Yoav Rinon, 2008 A probing and much needed examination of the tragic as a concept distinct from tragedy as a genre
  kairos in literature: Notions of Time in Deuterocanonical and Cognate Literature Stefan Beyerle, Matthew Goff, 2021-12-20 Seit 2004 gibt der Verlag De Gruyter in Zusammenarbeit mit der International Society for the Study of Deuterocanonical and Cognate Literature das Deuterocanonical and Cognate Literature · Yearbook (DCLY) heraus. Die Gesellschaft widmet sich dem Studium der Bücher der griechischen Bibel (Septuaginta), die nicht in der hebräischen Bibel enthalten sind, und der späteren jüdischen Literatur, also etwa aus der Zeit vom 3. Jahrhundert v. Chr. bis zum 1. Jahrhundert n. Chr. Die Jahrbücher publizieren die Referate und Ergebnisse der internationalen Konferenzen der Gesellschaft. Die Ausgaben 2005 bis 2011 sind weiterhin online erhältlich. – Prayer from Tobit to Qumran, ed. by Renate Egger-Wenzel and Jeremy Corley (2004) – The Book of Wisdom in Modern Research, ed. by Angelo Passaro, Giuseppe Bellia, John J. Collins (2005) – History and Identity, ed. by Núria Calduch-Benages and Jan Liesen (2006) – Angels, ed. by Friedrich Reiterer, Tobias Nicklas and Karin Schöpflin (2007) – Biblical Figures in Deuterocanonical and Cognate Literature, ed. by Hermann Lichtenberger and Ulrike Mittmann-Richert (2008) – The Human Body in Death and Resurrection, ed. by Tobias Nicklas, Friedrich Reiterer, Joseph Verheyden (2009)
  kairos in literature: Time and History in the Ancient Near East Lluis Feliu, J. Llop, A. Millet Albà, Joaquin Sanmartín, 2013-06-28 In July, 2010, the International Association for Assyriology met in Barcelona, Spain, for 5 days to deliver and listen to papers on the theme “Time and History in the Ancient Near East.” This volume, the proceedings of the conference, contains 70 of the papers read at the 56th annual Rencontre, including the papers from several workshop sessions on “architecture and archaeology,” “early Akkadian and its Semitic context,” “ Hurrian language,” “law in the ancient Near East,” “Middle Assyrian texts and studies,” and a variety of additional papers not directly related to the conference theme. The photo on the back cover shows only a representative portion of the attendees, who were warmly hosted by faculty and students from the University of Barcelona.
  kairos in literature: Missional Conversations Cathy Ross, Colin Smith, 2018-10-30 Missional Conversations introduces the reader to key themes in contemporary mission through global conversations between theory and praxis. Exploring emergent themes in missiology, the book takes the form of a conversation between reflective practitioners – both those in academia and with those who are practically engaged. With contributions from: Dave Bookless, Amy Ross, Daniel G. Groody CSC, Amy Roche, Mark Poulson, Richard Sudworth, David Barclay, Ash Barker, Stephan de Beer, Elisa Padilla, Berdine van den Toren-Lekkerkerker, Andrea Campanale, Michael Moynagh, Kyama Mugambi, Harvey Kwiyani, Dennis Tongoi, Paul Bickley, Jonny Baker, Ric Stott, Ian Adams
  kairos in literature: Time and Space in Ancient Myth, Religion and Culture SNF-Projekt, Menelaos Christopoulos, Athina Papachrysostomou, 2017-10-10 From Homer to Sophocles and Greek Middle Comedy, and from Plato and Protagoras to Ovid, this volume features a panoramic and cross-generic overview of the diverse handling and ad hoc elaboration of the overarching literary notions of time and space. The twenty-one contributions of this volume written by an international group of esteemed scholars provide an equal number of hermeneutic approaches to individual, distinct aspects of Greek and Latin literature. The volume is purposely designed not as a linear display of knowledge, but rather as an anthology of select paradigms that aim to demonstrate the multidimensional function and multifaceted role of the twin notions of time and space throughout ancient Greek and Latin literary texts. The volume opens with analyses of conspicuous cases from epic poetry, proceeds with examples from drama (tragedy and comedy), and concludes with diverse instances of chronotopes (empirical, imaginary, and even shifting ones), in various literary genres. The volume is of greatest relevance since it meets the cultural and theoretical trends of today’s Classics. It therefore will attract not only the interest of specialised Classicists but it is also intended for a wider general readership.
  kairos in literature: The Book of Words Jenny Erpenbeck, 2007 A young girl is raised by her parents in a South American village that is under the control of a totalitarian regime begins to notice the changes happening around her.
  kairos in literature: Not a Novel: A Memoir in Pieces Jenny Erpenbeck, 2020-09-01 A collection of highly personal and poetic essays about life, literature, and politics by the renowned German writer, Jenny Erpenbeck Jenny Erpenbeck’s highly acclaimed novel Go, Went, Gone was a New York Times notable book and launched one of Germany’s most admired writers into the American spotlight. In the New Yorker, James Wood wrote: “When Erpenbeck wins the Nobel Prize in a few years, I suspect that this novel will be cited.” On the heels of this literary breakthrough comes , a book of personal, profound, often humorous meditations and reflections. Erpenbeck writes, “With this collection of texts, I am looking back for the first time at many years of my life, at the thoughts that filled my life from day to day.” Starting with her childhood days in East Berlin (“I start with my life as a schoolgirl … my own conscious life begins at the same time as the socialist life of Leipziger Strasse”), Not a Novel provides a glimpse of growing up in the GDR and of what it was like to be twenty-two when the wall collapsed; it takes us through Erpenbeck’s early adult years, working in a bakery after immersing herself in the worlds of music, theater, and opera, and ultimately discovering her path as a writer. There are lively essays about her literary influences (Thomas Bernhard, the Brothers Grimm, Kafka, and Thomas Mann), unforgettable reflections on the forces at work in her novels (including history, silence, and time), and scathing commentaries on the dire situation of America and Europe today. “Why do we still hear laments for the Germans who died attempting to flee over the wall, but almost none for the countless refugees who have drowned in the Mediterranean in recent years, turning the sea into a giant grave?” With deep insight and warm intelligence, Jenny Erpenbeck provides us with a collection of unforgettable essays that take us into the heart and mind of “one of the finest and most exciting writers alive” (Michel Faber).
  kairos in literature: The Sociology of Time John Hassard, 2016-07-27 The volume offers a comprehensive introduction to the sociology of time. Based on selected contributions from leading writers, it illustrates the range of issues and perspectives which define the field. The volume traces distinct traditions of time analysis in social science and uses these to explain, for example, the development of capitalist time-consciousness, the ways we structure time in organizations and institutions, and how our time perceptions change in line with changes in culture. The book is for those who wish to understand how time comes to condition our everyday actions and affairs.
  kairos in literature: The Hill We Climb Amanda Gorman, 2021-03-30 The instant #1 New York Times bestseller and #1 USA Today bestseller Amanda Gorman’s electrifying and historic poem “The Hill We Climb,” read at President Joe Biden’s inauguration, is now available as a collectible gift edition. “Stunning.” —CNN “Dynamic.” —NPR “Deeply rousing and uplifting.” —Vogue On January 20, 2021, Amanda Gorman became the sixth and youngest poet to deliver a poetry reading at a presidential inauguration. Taking the stage after the 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden, Gorman captivated the nation and brought hope to viewers around the globe with her call for unity and healing. Her poem “The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country” can now be cherished in this special gift edition, perfect for any reader looking for some inspiration. Including an enduring foreword by Oprah Winfrey, this remarkable keepsake celebrates the promise of America and affirms the power of poetry.
  kairos in literature: The Rock That Is Higher Madeleine L'Engle, 2018-09-18 We are all strangers in a strange land, longing for home, but not quite knowing what or where home is. We glimpse it sometimes in our dreams, or as we turn a corner, and suddenly there is a strange, sweet familiarity that vanishes almost as soon as it comes… –Madeleine L’Engle, from The Rock That Is Higher Story captures our hearts and feeds our imaginations. It reminds us who we are and where we came from. Story gives meaning and direction to our lives as we learn to see it as an affirmation of God’s love and truth–an acknowledgment of our longing for a rock in the midst of life’s wilderness. Drawing upon her own experiences, well-known tales in literature, and selected narratives from Scripture, Madeleine L’Engle gently leads the way into the glorious world of story in The Rock That Is Higher. Here she acknowledges universal human longings and considers how literature, Scripture, personal stories, and life experiences all point us toward our true home.
  kairos in literature: The Dangerous Act of Worship Mark Labberton, 2012-10-31 In this prophetic call to the contemporary church, pastor Mark Labberton redefines Christian worship in the language of justice. He calls us away from individualized worship and into worshiping communities that give expression to righteousness, justice and compassion.
  kairos in literature: Ideology and Rhetoric Bożenna Chylińska, 2009-01-14 The discovery of America and its further development into a modern state and a nation are the clear instance of how ideology and rhetoric are entwined and how they can encompass widely disparate viewpoints. The essays collected in this book address the topical issues of modern American Studies: cultural difference and otherness; gender, race and ethnicity; class and power. They represent new texts and contexts, approached through the revision, reevaluation, and reconfiguration of cannons, thus accommodating the expectations of the heterodox audience. Femininity reconsidered; an ideology of passing away in contemporary world of technical development; race captured within the framework of identity and gender; the rhetoric of blackness approached through racial exploitation; American conquest ideology revealed in a mission of Manifest Destiny; the 20th century assimilation rhetoric in the relations between Native Americans and the US federal government; the conservative ideology and apologetic rhetoric of the Antebellum South; the critique of the 21st century American legal system; the evolution of the presidential rhetoric which today addresses a large heterogeneous audience – all these topics impose a transnational interpretation of American culture which developed as a result of the cross-cultural transformation of European culture/cultures, moulded on American soil to finally become a unique reformulation of the very idea of America itself.
  kairos in literature: Attention and Distraction in Modern German Literature, Thought, and Culture Carolin Duttlinger, 2022-05-26 Attention is fundamental to how we experience reality, and yet this notion has been understood and practised in very different ways across history. This interdisciplinary study explores the dynamic relationship between attention and its supposed opposite, distraction, as it unfolds from the eighteenth century to the present day. Its primary focus is on twentieth-century Germany and Austria, where matters of (in)attention gained a unique urgency during a period of social change and political crisis. Building on Enlightenment practices of self-observation, nineteenth-century Germany was the birthplace of experimental psychology, a discipline which sought to measure and potentially enhance human attention. This approach was also adopted outside the psychological laboratory—for instance in the First World War, when psychological testing was used to select soldiers for particular strategic positions. After the war these techniques filtered through into everyday life. Weimar Germany was unique in the western world in rolling out the methods of 'psychotechnics' across civilian society—in fields such as work and education, advertising and mass entertainment. This state-sponsored programme aimed to reshape people's minds and behaviour in order to build a more efficient, streamlined society. But as this study shows, this initiative also had profound repercussions in the fields of thought, literature, and culture. New readings of leading writers and intellectuals of the period—Kafka, Musil, Kracauer, Benjamin, and Adorno—are interspersed with broader cultural-historical chapters dedicated to the history of psychology and psychiatry, to Weimar self-help literature, portrait photography, and musical culture.