The View of Ageing and Older Age in Selected Canadian Short Stories

At what age are people considered “old”? Does old age start when people retire and become grandparents, or is it the age of 65 that determines old age, as proposed by many governments and institutions ? Is it someone’s physical and mental condition that helps us distinguish between “old” and “not yet old”, or does old age start once people talk more about “bygone days” than future events? As a matter of fact, no universal definition of “old” and “old age” exists, simply because these terms are highly relative by nature and differ widely across individuals, cultures, and periods . Although ageing is an “inevitable shared human experience” that starts from the day we are born and ends with our death, most people are reluctant to give any thoughts to this delicate and uncanny subject, at least, as they are young and healthy. Yet, the subjects of ageing and older age are becoming more and more important due to the increasing life-expectancy and the growing number of older people in most countries around the world. The fact that people today live longer than ever before in human history can be regarded as a great societal achievement, but it has ironically created new problems for individuals and society as a whole. The prevalence of age-related chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s increases with age and causes new challenges for affected people and their families . Moreover, health care costs have dramatically increased in most western societies and the burden of these costs continues to shift to younger generations who have to care for an increasing number of older people. These and other issues have given rise to a public and academic discourse on ageing and older age that is marked by ambiguity and scepticism, reflecting people’s mixed feelings about the subject matter. Apart from economic and financial issues, older age has long been perceived as a period of decline and deterioration, while positive aspects and opportunities have not been taken into account. This overemphasis on negative aspects of ageing has also been facilitated by an “obsession with youth” , promoted by the media, consumerism, popular culture, and the fashion industry . Moreover, as Sugar et al. argue, “there has been a lack of recognition […] of the realities of an aging population” .

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• INTRODUCTION
• AGEING AND OLDER AGE IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY
  • GROWING OLD IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY AND CULTURE
  • THE SCIENTIFIC AND ACADEMIC VIEW OF AGEING
• THE VIEW OF AGEING AND OLDER AGE IN LITERATURE AND CULTURE
  • A HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
    • Classical Greek and Roman Literature
    • The Middle Ages and the Renaissance
    • Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century
    • From Nineteenth Century to Contemporary Literature
  • THE PURPOSE AND FUNCTION OF LITERATURE ON AGEING
• THE VIEW OF AGEING IN SELECTED CANADIAN SHORT STORIES
  • AGEING AS A NARRATIVE OF DECLINE: "THE LABRADOR FIASCO" AND "MISS FOOTE"
  • AGEING AS A NARRATIVE OF OPPORTUNITY: "A CHAIR FOR GEORGE" AND "THE BEAR CAME OVER THE MOUNTAIN"
  • BEYOND A DUALISTIC APPROACH: A REALISTIC DEPICTION OF AGEING IN "THE BAD NEWS" AND "DOLLY"

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This work examines the portrayal of ageing and older age in a selection of Canadian short stories by relating them to diverse perspectives found in private, public, and academic discourses. The main objective is to explore how the theme of ageing is presented in these narratives and how it reflects the varying perceptions of ageing prevalent in our society.

• The multifaceted nature of ageing and older age
• The influence of societal views and cultural perceptions on the representation of ageing in literature
• The impact of contemporary societal discourses on the understanding of ageing
• The exploration of ageing beyond simplistic narratives of decline or opportunity
• The role of literature in providing a nuanced and multifaceted understanding of ageing

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Introduction: The introduction establishes the multifaceted nature of the concept of "old age" and addresses the challenges and complexities associated with ageing in contemporary society. It also introduces the main themes of the study and the six selected short stories that will be analyzed.
• Ageing and Older Age in Contemporary Society: This chapter explores how ageing and older age are perceived and represented in modern western society, politics, and research. It examines the prevailing discourses on ageing and highlights the societal and cultural influences shaping these views.
• The View of Ageing and Older Age in Literature and Culture: This chapter provides a historical overview of how ageing has been portrayed in literature and culture, from classical Greek and Roman literature to contemporary works. It also explores the purpose and function of literature in offering different perspectives on ageing.
• The View of Ageing in Selected Canadian Short Stories: This chapter delves into the analysis of six selected Canadian short stories, categorizing them into three different "narratives" of ageing: Ageing as a Narrative of Decline, Ageing as a Narrative of Opportunity, and A Realistic Depiction of Ageing. It explores how each story contributes to a broader understanding of the multifaceted realities of ageing and older age.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This work focuses on the themes of ageing, older age, Canadian short stories, literary analysis, societal perceptions, cultural representations, and the interdisciplinary field of ageing studies. It examines how these themes intersect and influence each other in the context of contemporary literature and society.

Details

• College: University of Constance
• Grade: 1,0
• Author: Anonym (Author)
• Publication Year: 2017
• Pages: 40
• Catalog Number: V437127
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668777880
• ISBN (Book): 9783668777897
• Language: English
• Tags: Canadian short story Aging and literature older age and literature Alice Munro Margaret Atwood