English-Canadian Literary Anthologies, National Identity, and the Canon
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“[T]he subtle but powerful cement of a patriotic literature”: English-Canadian Literary Anthologies, National Identity, and the Canon Bonnie Kathleen Hughes Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies In partial fulfilment of the requirements For the PhD degree in English Literature Department of English Faculty of Arts University of Ottawa © Bonnie Kathleen Hughes, Ottawa, Canada, 2012 ii Table of Contents Title Page i Table of Contents ii Abstract iv Acknowledgements v Anthologies Consulted vii Introduction 1 Anthologies and Canons 5 The Canon Debate 8 Canon Formation 13 Anthology Development and the Canadian Canon 15 Outline of the Dissertation 16 Chapter One: The Development of Canadian Literary Anthologies 18 The Literary Historical Phase 18 The Literary Nationalistic Phase 27 The Thematic Phase 32 The Pluralistic Phase 41 Chapter Two: Frances Brooke 51 Brooke’s Biography and Literary Works 53 The Literary Historical Phase 56 The Literary Nationalistic Phase 58 The Thematic Phase 63 The Pluralistic Phase 67 Conclusion 74 Chapter Three: John Richardson and William Kirby 76 Richardson’s Biography and Literary Works 81 The Literary Historical Phase 83 The Literary Nationalistic Phase 88 iii The Thematic Phase 93 The Pluralistic Phase 96 Kirby’s Biography and Literary Works 100 The Literary Historical Phase 105 The Literary Nationalistic Phase 109 The Thematic Phase 110 The Pluralistic Phase 112 Conclusion 114 Chapter Four: Susanna Moodie 116 Moodie’s Biography and Literary Works 120 The Literary Historical Phase 122 The Literary Nationalistic Phase 129 The Thematic Phase 136 The Pluralistic Phase 149 Conclusion 158 Chapter Five: Pauline Johnson 160 Johnson’s Biography and Literary Works 162 The Literary Historical Phase 164 The Literary Nationalistic Phase 170 The Thematic Phase 172 The Pluralistic Phase 177 Conclusion 188 Conclusion 190 Works Cited 195 iv Abstract The dissertation investigates the correlations among the development of general anthologies of Canadian literature, the Canadian canon, and visions of national identity. While literature anthologies are widely used in university classrooms, the influential role of the anthology in the critical study of literature has been largely overlooked, particularly in Canada. The dissertation begins with an analysis of the stages of development of general anthologies of Canadian literature, demonstrating that there are important links between dominant critical trends and the guiding interests of the various phases of anthology development and that anthologies both reflect and participate in moulding views of the nation and its literature. Focusing then upon five eighteenth- and nineteenth- century Canadian authors, the dissertation traces their treatment in anthologies and analyzes in detail the impact of stages of anthology development upon authors’ inclusion and presentation. The reception of Frances Brooke, John Richardson, William Kirby, Susanna Moodie, and Emily Pauline Johnson over a span of nearly 90 years is examined, and points of inclusion and exclusion are scrutinized to determine links with prevailing critical interests as well as canonical status. These case studies reveal the functions of anthologies, which include recovering overlooked authors, amending past oversights, reflecting new areas of critical inquiry, and preserving the national literary tradition. Their treatment also reveals the effect of larger critical concerns, such as alignment with dominant visions of the nation, considerations of genre, and reassessments of past views. The dissertation shows that the anthology is a carefully constructed, culturally valuable work that plays an important role in literary criticism and canon formation and is a genre worthy of careful scrutiny. v Acknowledgements Fittingly, since the topic of my dissertation is one that is often collaborative and involves input from numerous people, I have many to thank. I would like to thank the University of Ottawa and the Department of English for financial support during my studies. I am grateful to my external examiner, Dr. Cecily Devereux, for taking the time to review my project, offer helpful remarks, and travel to my defense. Many thanks to my internal examiners, Dr. Jennifer Blair, Dr. Gerald Lynch, and Dr. David Staines for their insightful comments and feedback regarding my project. My supervisor, Janice Fiamengo, has been unfailingly supportive and guided me towards a stronger project at every stage. I admire her writing and research very much, and she has been a wonderful mentor and friend. My Master’s supervisor, Francis Zichy, helped me throughout my MA degree and to continue my studies; his guidance and encouragement have been invaluable. I am grateful for the support and assistance I received from my friends. Amie Shirkie has been a good friend for many years and is always ready with supportive words, an optimistic viewpoint, and endless giggles. Thanks to Lindsay, Monique, and Finn Tallon, Dave and Amanda Hutton, and Siobhan Dunbar for their friendship, positivity, and encouragement. Poonam Bajwa, whom I met on the first day of the program, has been a wonderful friend ever since, and her wit, humour, insight, and suggestions have helped me in so many ways. Thanks to thesis club, Poonam, Sue Bowness, Carmela Coccimiglio, and Marissa McHugh, for providing the opportunity to mull over and work through thesis problems, as well as much needed breaks from work. Thanks to many others who offered vi friendship, inspiration, and guidance during my studies. Many thanks to everyone who attended my defense and celebrated with me afterwards. My entire family has supported me in so many ways throughout my time as a graduate student. My sisters, Nicole, Rosalie, and Heather, have cheered me on the entire time, and their encouragement has been very important to me. My mother, Audrey Hughes, nurtured a deep love of reading and learning in me from an early age, and my father, Larry Hughes, demonstrated the value of hard work, dedication, and a sense of humour. For this and everything else they have done for me, I am so grateful. I could not have pursued this project without my parents’ support, and I dedicate this dissertation to them. Last, but so very far from least, I must thank my husband, Garry Drake, for his endless love, support, patience, positivity, and encouragement. Thank you so much for everything. vii Anthologies Consulted Bennett, Donna, and Russell Brown, eds. An Anthology of Canadian Literature in English. 3rd ed. Toronto: Oxford UP, 2010. Print. ---, eds. A New Anthology of Canadian Literature in English. Don Mills, ON: Oxford UP, 2002. Print. Broadus, Edmund Kemper, and Eleanor Hammond Broadus, eds. A Book of Canadian Prose and Verse. Toronto: MacMillan, 1923. Print. ---, eds. A Book of Canadian Prose and Verse. Rev. ed. Toronto: MacMillan, 1934. Print. Brown, Russell, and Donna Bennett, eds. An Anthology of Canadian Literature in English. 2 vols. Toronto: Oxford UP, 1982-83. Print. Brown, Russell, Donna Bennett, and Nathalie Cooke, eds. An Anthology of Canadian Literature in English. Rev. and abr. ed. Toronto: Oxford UP, 1990. Print. Daymond, Douglas, and Leslie Monkman, eds. Literature in Canada. 2 vols. Toronto: Gage, 1978. Print. Denham, Paul, ed. The Evolution of Canadian Literature in English: 1945-1970. Toronto: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1973. Print. Edwards, Mary Jane, ed. The Evolution of Canadian Literature in English: Beginnings to 1867. Toronto: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1973. Print. Edwards, Mary Jane, Paul Denham, and George L. Parker, eds. The Evolution of Canadian Literature in English: 1867-1914. Toronto: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1973. Print. Klinck, Carl F., and Reginald E. Watters, eds. Canadian Anthology. Toronto: Gage, 1955. Print. viii ---, eds. Canadian Anthology. Rev. ed. Toronto: Gage, 1966. Print. ---, eds. Canadian Anthology. 3rd ed. Toronto: Gage, 1974. Print. Lecker, Robert, ed. Open Country: Canadian Literature in English. Toronto: Nelson, 2008. Print. Moss, Laura, and Cynthia Sugars, eds. Canadian Literature in English: Texts and Contexts. Vol. 2. 2 vols. Toronto: Pearson, 2009. Print. Parker, George L., ed. The Evolution of Canadian Literature in English: 1916-1945. Toronto: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1973. Print. Robins, John D., ed. A Pocketful of Canada. Toronto: Collins, 1946. Print. Smith, A.J.M., ed. The Book of Canadian Poetry: A Critical and Historical Anthology. Toronto: Gage, 1943. Print. ---, ed. The Book of Canadian Poetry: A Critical and Historical Anthology. Rev. ed. Toronto: Gage, 1948. Print. ---, ed. The Book of Canadian Poetry: A Critical and Historical Anthology. 3rd ed. Toronto: Gage, 1957. Print. ---, ed. The Book of Canadian Prose: The Canadian Century: English-Canadian Writing Since Confederation. Toronto: Gage, 1973. Print ---, ed. The Book of Canadian Prose: Early Beginnings to Confederation. Toronto: Gage, 1965. Print. ---, ed. The Canadian Experience: A Brief Survey of English-Canadian Prose. Toronto: Gage, 1974. Print. Sugars, Cynthia, and Laura Moss, eds. Canadian Literature in English: Texts and Contexts. Vol. 1. 2 vols. Toronto: Pearson, 2009. Print. Watson, Albert Durrant, and Lorne Albert Pierce, eds. Our Canadian Literature: ix Representative Prose and Verse. Toronto: Ryerson, 1922. Print. Weaver, Robert, and William Toye, eds. The Oxford Anthology of Canadian Literature. Toronto: Oxford UP, 1973. Print. ---, eds. The Oxford Anthology of Canadian Literature. 2nd ed. Toronto: Oxford UP, 1981. Print. 1 INTRODUCTION