La Parodie Entre Respect et Contestation de L'auctoritas: Le Cas de Théodore de Banville

Abstract

This article is concerned with parody in Banville's work and offers an analysis of the relationship between the author and the models which he rewrites. After a theoretical framing and definition of parody, I note how parody usually targets authoritative authors. If Banville declares his explicit wish to pay homage to those he admires thanks to parody and thus possesses a prestige notion of this mode of writing, his connection to the authors he rewrites brings with it a certain ambivalence. Banvillian parody, without involving the rejection of literary tradition (in particular of Hugo), nevertheless retains a critical relationship to his models, and his strong desire for originality conveys the need to overcome such models.

This article is concerned with parody in Banville's work and offers an analysis of the relationship between the author and the models which he rewrites. After a theoretical framing and definition of parody, I note how parody usually targets authoritative authors. If Banville declares his explicit wish to pay homage to those he admires thanks to parody and thus possesses a prestige notion of this mode of writing, his connection to the authors he rewrites brings with it a certain ambivalence. Banvillian parody, without involving the rejection of literary tradition (in particular of Hugo), nevertheless retains a critical relationship to his models, and his strong desire for originality conveys the need to overcome such models.

Cet article s'intéresse à l'aspect parodique de l'œuvre de Théodore de Banville et se propose d'analyser les rapports que l'auteur entretient avec les modèles qu'il récrit. Après avoir fourni un cadre théorique sur la notion de parodie et l'avoir définie, il s'agit de constater que la parodie prend le plus souvent pour cible des auteurs qui font autorité. Or, si Banville affiche explicitement sa volonté de rendre hommage à ceux qu'il admire grâce à la parodie et possède ainsi une conception de cette pratique d'écriture valorisante, son lien avec les auteurs qu'il récrit comporte une certaine ambivalence. La parodie banvillienne, sans relever du rejet de la tradition littéraire — et de la figure hugolienne en particulier — conserve cependant une relation critique vis-à-vis de ses modèles, et son fort désir d'originalité traduit la nécessité de les dépasser.

Keywords:

• BANVILLE
• HUGO
• PARODY
• AUTHORITY
• HOMAGE
• CONTESTATION
• FILIATION
• ORIGINALITY