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Bakhtin Carnivalesque

The 'Carnivalesque' is a concept by Mikhail Bakhtin that describes a literary and cultural mode characterized by humor and chaos, subverting dominant societal norms. Originating from medieval carnivals, it features the reversal of hierarchies, celebration of the grotesque body, and freedom of speech. It serves as a space for suppressed voices and cultural renewal, exemplified in works like Rabelais' 'Gargantua and Pantagruel' and Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night'.

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Khan Khan
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349 views1 page

Bakhtin Carnivalesque

The 'Carnivalesque' is a concept by Mikhail Bakhtin that describes a literary and cultural mode characterized by humor and chaos, subverting dominant societal norms. Originating from medieval carnivals, it features the reversal of hierarchies, celebration of the grotesque body, and freedom of speech. It serves as a space for suppressed voices and cultural renewal, exemplified in works like Rabelais' 'Gargantua and Pantagruel' and Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night'.

Uploaded by

Khan Khan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Bakhtin: Carnivalesque

What is Carnivalesque?

The 'Carnivalesque' is a concept developed by Mikhail Bakhtin in his work 'Rabelais and His World'. It refers

to a literary and cultural mode that subverts and liberates the assumptions of the dominant style or

atmosphere through humor and chaos.

Carnivalesque originates from medieval carnivals, which were temporary periods of sanctioned social

inversion: the poor could mock the rich, fools could become kings, and all forms of hierarchy were

suspended.

Key Features of the Carnivalesque:

- Reversal of Hierarchies: Kings become fools, servants mock masters.

- Grotesque Body: Celebration of the exaggerated, distorted, and material body.

- Freedom of Speech: Institutions (church, monarchy) are mocked.

- Suspension of Rules: Norms and conventions are turned upside down.

- Collective Spirit: Communal laughter and festivity over individual seriousness.

- Ambivalence: Joyful yet critical; mocking yet renewing.

Examples in Literature:

- Rabelais' 'Gargantua and Pantagruel'

- Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night'

- Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales'

Significance:

Bakhtin sees the carnivalesque as a space where suppressed voices emerge, authority is questioned, and

culture renews itself. It is a powerful tool for literary and social critique, allowing marginalized or alternative

viewpoints to be expressed in a festive and liberating form.

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