You might take a look at my "Poetic Remaking: Browning, Yeats, and Pound"
on the issues you raise. And at Reed Dasenbrock's book "Imitating the
Italians," esp chapter one.
--Best, George Bornstein
*********************************************************************
George Bornstein Department of English
C.A. Patrides Professor of Literature University of Michigan
email: [log in to unmask] Ann Arbor, Mich. 48109-1003
office phone: (734) 764-6330 office fax: (734) 763-3128
On Mon, 27 Aug 2007, William Davis wrote:
> Dear Members:
>
> I want to thank those who have sent suggestions to me, both on and off the list.? The suggestions are very helpful, and I appreciate the time and effort involved in offering these ideas.? I look forward to pursuing all the suggestions.
>
> In the meantime, I wanted to toss out another related question.? I realize it will not likely have a simple answer but I was curious to get a general idea of the sentiments among textual scholars surrounding influence, borrowing, appropriation, even plagiarism between writers.? (Wim Van Mierlo, you mentioned I may be opening a can of worms with my inquiry, but I guess that's precisely where I'm headed -- can opener in hand.)
>
> Perhaps this might be an informal survey of sorts, but I'm curious to know what kind of textual evidence convinces scholars that one author intentionally and consciously lifted material from another author.? My question to the group is this:? when observing influence, at what point does the evidence favor conscious and deliberate appropriation over any other kind of incidental, unconscious influence?? More specifically, and perhaps more personally, what kind of textual evidence is required to convince you that a writer consciously borrowed material from someone else?
>
> Again, replies on or off list are welcome.? I appreciate the thoughts anyone would like to share.? I realize I'm still opening that proverbial can of worms here, but for those who like to fish I suspect I might soon have more than enough bait to share for any long weekend fishing trips ahead.
>
> Best regards,
>
> William Davis
>
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