The Name Of The Poet

Onomastics and Anonymity in the Works of Stephane Mallarme

by Michael Temple

Book cover: The Name Of The Poet

Extent: 208 pages

Publisher: University of Exeter Press

Subjects: Language & Linguistics, Literary Studies

Language: English

Hardback (Published)

(November 1995)

ISBN: 9780859894319

5.83 x 9.17 inches

Price: $112.00

Out of stock

An examination of the use of names and the art of naming in the works of StEphane MallarmE. Maintaining an independent critical, and self-critical, approach, the author elaborates a ‘theory of the name’ from within the Mallarmean text, rather than through the application of an external theory.


An examination of the use of names and the art of naming in the works of StEphane MallarmE. Maintaining an independent critical, and self-critical, approach, the author elaborates a ‘theory of the name’ from within the Mallarmean text, rather than through the application of an external theory. The work provides the reader with new ways of thinking about Mallarme’s ‘development’ and about poetry’s attempt to break out of an embattled position in the last decades of the nineteenth century.

Acknowledgements and Note on Abbreviations, vii
1 Introduction, 1
1.1 The Name and the Author, 1
1.2 Voyage en Cratylie, 5
1.3 A brief history and outline of the project, 9
1.4 'Pres d'un siecle de lecture maintenant', 12
2 Does Stephane Mallarme have a theory of the Name?, 19
2.1 Looking for theory in theory, 19
2.2 At the source of theory, 26
2.3 Working theory, 50. 3 What is - Stephane Mallarme?, 63
3.1 'un semis de fioritures', 64
3.2 Paraph: 'Monsieur S.M., 29 rue de Moscou', 67
3.3 Renown: Making a name for yourself, 80
3.4 Phainein: 'Comme dans la glace on s'y mire', 92
3.5 Sublime: 'l'attention que sollicite quelque papillon blanc', 103
4 Writing your name into History, 113
4.1 Poe, 114
4.2 Wagner, 126
4.3 Baudelaire, 139
5 Conclusion, 151
Notes, 159
List of works consulted, 185
Index, 197

  • By (author) Michael Temple

"Much of the pleasure in this book lies in Temple's convivial imitation of Mallarme's theoretical teasing..." Modern Language Review
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