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Wonder, Touch, and Subjectivity in Scève's Délie

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Guild, Elizabeth 

Abstract

This article explores embodiment and the search for knowledge of self precipitated by falling in love in Scève's Délie (1544). Scève's version of the ‘look of love’ draws together divergent elements: wonder (distal, associated with the mind) and touch (associated with contiguity and the body). The meaning of Scève's wondrous ‘poingnant' veue’ exceeds prevailing theories of vision/knowledge and Petrarchan poetics. Wonder initiates the desire for knowledge, but this look penetrates, therefore touches: what is happening physiologically, emotionally, epistemologically, and poetically? Focus on wonder's and touch's operations sheds light on the text's representation of love, knowledge, and embodied subjectivity.

Description

Keywords

47 Language, Communication and Culture, 4703 Language Studies, 4705 Literary Studies

Journal Title

Modern Language Review

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0026-7937

Volume Title

112

Publisher

Modern Humanities Research Association