S C L / É L C

Studies in Canadian Literature

Études en littérature canadienne

1998

Volume 23 Number 2

Published by

the University of New Brunswick

Editor: John Clement Ball

Associate Editors: Laurel Boone, Mary Rimmer

Managing Editor: Sabine Campbell

Contributing Editors: Anne Brown, Fred Cogswell

Editorial Assistant: Scott Gordon

Advisory Board:

Studies in Canadian Literature/Études en littérature canadienne (SCL/ÉLC) is a biannual refereed journal devoted to the scholarly and critical study of Canadian literature in English and French; it is indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index, the MLA Index, and the American Humanities Index, and is available on-line in the Canadian Business & Current Affairs Database and in micro-form from Micromedia Ltd., 20 Victoria St., Toronto ON, M5C 2N8.

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the University of New Brunswick, and the Province of New Brunswick.

The editors welcome submissions on any aspect of Canadian literature, as well as formal responses to any essay published in the journal. SCL/ÉLC can be emailed at scl@unb.ca

Please send manuscripts – in duplicate – along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope, to:

Studies in Canadian Literature/Études en littérature canadienne

UNB PO Box 4400

Fredericton NB

Canada E3B 5A3

Manuscripts which arrive by 1 September will be considered for the winter issue; those arriving by 1 March will be considered for publication in the summer issue. No multiple submissions, please.

Papers are vetted blind; please include name, affiliation, and address on a separate sheet. Footnotes must conform to the MLA Handbook, fourth edition. Copyright remains the property of individual contributors, but permission to reprint in whole or in part must be obtained from the editors.

Annual subscription: Individuals, $16 ($30 for two years); Institutions, $22 ($40 for two years). U.S. and overseas subscribers please add $6 per year for mailing.

SCL/ÉLC’s Web Site can be found at:

http://ultratext.hil.unb.ca/Texts/SCL/generalinfo.htm

A sample issue of the journal (22.1) is available on the Web. It can be found at:

http://ultratext.hil.unb.ca/Texts/SCL/journal.htm

ISSN 0380-6995

Canadian Publication Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 010519

Brian Bartlett St Mary’s University

Neil Besner University of Winnipeg

Gary Boire Wilfrid Laurier University

E.D. Blodgett University of Alberta

Anthony Boxill University of New Brunswick

Barry Cameron University of New Bruns wick

J. Edward Chamberlin University of Toronto

Annick Chapdeleine Université McGill

Thomas Gerry Laurentian University

Terry Goldie York University

Sherrill Grace University of British Columbia

Ajay Heble, University of Guelph

Smaro Kamboureli University of Victoria

Susan Knutson Université Ste-Anne

Denyse Lynde Memorial University of Nfld

Kathy Mezei Simon Fraser University

Jean Morency Université de Moncton

Paul Tiessen Wilfrid Laurier University

Robert Viau Université de Nouveau-Bruns wick

Linda Warley University of Waterloo

Scl/Élc Volume 23.2 1998

Table of Contents

Linda Svendsen’s Marine Life: Undoing Narrative Consolation

Janice Fiamengo 1

La problématique de la langue dans la forme et le contenu de deux romans

plurilingues acadiens : Bloupe de Jean Babineau et

Moncton Mantra de Gérald Leblanc

Chantal G. Richard 19

Various Persons Named Kevin O’Brien:

Nowlan’s Novel Response to the Critics

Paul Milton 36

Tayloring the Self: Identity, Articulation, and Community in Proulx’s

The Shipping News

Robert Scott Stewart 49

Race and Conflict in Garner’s “One-Two-Three Little Indians” and

Laurence’s “The Loons”

Tracy Ware 71

Toward a Poetics of Dislocation:

Elizabeth Bishop and P.K. Page Writing “Brazil”

Kevin McNeilly 85

Transgression et dédoublement dans Minuit chrétiens de Jean Éthier-Blais

Victor-Laurent Tremblay 109

Listening to Silences in Ruby Slipperjack’s Silent Words

Dee Horne 122

SCL/ÉLC Interview:

Standing Your Ground: George Elliott Clarke in Conversation

Anne Compton 138

Notes on Contributors

165

CALL FOR PAPERS

Special Issue

Studies in Canadian Literature/Études en littérature canadienne

“Canadian Literature and the Business of Publishing”

We invite articles that offer a critical analysis of the relations between anglophone or francophone Canadian literature and the publishing industry, both at home and abroad. Essays with a historical or contemporary focus are equally welcome, as are those of a polemical or prophetic nature (providing they are well argued and fully supported). Articles may have a broad focus or take a narrower, case-study approach.

Possible topics:

— how the publishing industry (or a segment of it) has served / failed to serve

Canadian readers, writers, and critics

— how different literary genres are handled by publishers

— the role of the Canadian publishing industry in canon-formation

— the contributions of particular presses, imprints, editors, or publishers

— the role of Canadian journals, newspapers, and/or magazines

— the construction of anthologies, literary histories, or reference books

— the influence of marketing and publicity systems and/or literary agents

— the tastes and trends in book design and packaging

— the role of book reviewing, literary prizes, and/or bestseller lists

— the impact of foreign publishers and rights sales

— the role of government policies, funding agencies, and/or trade association

— the impact of new technologies on the production and reception of Canadian literature

Manuscripts (not longer than 7,000 words) in either English or French should arrive by 1 December, 1999. The issue will be co-edited by Jennifer Andrews, John Clement Ball, and Robert Viau, and will be published in 2000.

Please send two copies of manuscripts to:

Studies in Canadian Literature/Études en littérature canadienne

University of New Brunswick

PO Box 4400

Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3

Canada

APPEL D’ARTICLES

Numéro spécial de

Studies in Canadian Literature/Études en littérature canadienne

“La littérature canadienne et l’industrie du livre”

Nous sollicitons des articles qui portent un regard critique sur les relations entre les littératures canadiennes et québécoises et l’industrie du livre, au Canada et à l’extérieur du pays. Les articles qui soulignent certains aspects historiques ou qui portent sur la situation actuelle sont aussi bienvenus, de même que les articles de nature polémique ou prophétique (en autant qu’ils soient étayés par de bons arguments et bien documentés). Les articles peuvent développer une approche généraliste ou se limiter à des études de cas.

Sujets et approches possibles :

— comment le monde de l’édition (ou un segment de cette industrie) a bien (ou mal)

servi les lecteurs, écrivains et critiques canadiens et québécois

— comment les différents genres littéraires sont traités et reconnus par les éditeurs

— le rôle de l’édition dans la formation du canon

–– les contributions particulières de certaines presses, maisons d’édition, directeurs de

collections et d’ouvrages ou d’imprimeurs

— le rôle des journaux, revues et magazines canadiens et québécois

— l’établissement d’anthologies, d’histoires de la littérature ou de livres de référence

— l’influence de la commercialisation, de la publicité et/ou des agents littéraires

— les goûts et les tendances dans la conception et la mise en marché des livres

— le rôle des critiques de livres, des prix littéraires et/ou des listes de best-sellers

— l’impact des éditeurs étrangers et des droits d’auteur

— le rôle des politiques gouvernementales, des agences de financement et/ou des

associations commerciales

— l’impact des nouvelles technologies sur la production et la réception des littératures

canadienne et québécoise

Les manuscrits (maximum 7 000 mots) en français ou en anglais doivent nous parvenir avant le 1er décembre 1999. Ce numéro spécial, co-édité par Jennifer Andrews, John Clement Ball et Robert Viau, sera publié en l’an 2000.

Veuillez envoyer deux copies de votre manuscrit à :

Studies in Canadian Literature/Études en littérature canadienne

Université du Nouveau-Brunswick CP 4400

Frédéricton N-B E3B 5A3

Canada

Call for Papers/Appel d’Articles

Special Issue/Numéro spécial de

Studies in Canadian Literature/Études en littérature canadienne

“Canadian Literature and the business of Publishing”

We invite articles that offer a critical analysis of the relations between Canadian literature and literary study and the publishing industry. Essays with a historical or contemporary focus are equally welcome, as are those of a polemical or prophetic nature (provididing they are well argued and fully supported).

Possible topics:

— how the publishing industry (or a segment of it) has served / failed to serve Canadian readers, writers and critics — how different literary genres are handled by publishers — the role of the Canadian publishing industry in canon-formation — contributions of particular presses, imprints, editors, or publishers — the role of Canadian journals, news- papers, and/or magazines — construction of anthologies, literary histories, or reference books — influence of marketing and publici- ty systems and/or literary agents — tastes and trends in book design and packaging — the role of book reviewing, literary prizes, and/or bestseller lists — impact of foreign publishers and rights sales — the role of government policies, funding agencies, and/or trade associations — impact of new technologies on Canadian literature.

Manuscripts/les manuscrits (max. 7,000 words/mots) in English or French/en français ou en anglais doivent nous parvenir de 1er décembre 1999/should arrive by 1 December, 1999. The issue will be co-edited/Ce numéro sera co-édité par John Clement Ball, Robert Viau, and Jennifer Andrews, and will be published/publié en 2000.

Please send two copies of manuscripts to: /Veuillez envoyer deux copies de votre manuscrit à:

Studies in Canadian Literature/Études en littérature canadienne

CP 4400 Fredericton NB

Canada E3B 5A3