A Comparison of "The Hours" and "Mrs Dalloway"

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes the similarities and differences between Virginia Woolf's "Mrs Dalloway" and Michael Cunningham's "The Hours". The paper explains that in the elements of content, narrative technique, and imagery, there are many examples of dependence and independence between the two texts. The writer suggests that the structure of the novel, more specifically, formal chapter divisions, is one example of where "The Hours" can be seen as an independent novel without influence from "Mrs. Dalloway". The writer also looks at one of the most recognised elements of "Mrs. Dalloway" - Woolf's utilisation of 'stream of consciousness'. The writer concludes that what is most apparent from this analysis is that although "The Hours" can be read as a stand-alone novel, the significance of many of the elements of "The Hours" cannot be truly appreciated without the context and comparison provided for it by "Mrs. Dalloway".

From the Paper:

"Mrs. Dalloway was written by Virginia Woolf in the 1920's, and since this time has been rewritten on numerous occasions, in various forms. In 1999, Michael Cunningham wrote The Hours, a Pulitzer Prize winning novel that reignited interest in Mrs. Dalloway. Although a prior knowledge of Mrs. Dalloway is not essential to a reading of Michael Cunningham's The Hours, Spengler argues that it is the invitation to find the similarities and differences between the two novels that entices the reader to view both texts (75)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Benjamin, Anna S. "Towards an Understanding of the Meaning of Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway." Wisconsin Studies in Contemporary Literature 6.2 (1965): 214-227. Jstor. 20 September 2006 <http://www.jstor.org/>.
• Cunningham, Michael. The Hours. Great Britain: Fourth Estate, 1999.
• Filkins, Peter. "Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway." British Writers Classics: Volume Two. Ed. Jay Parini. New York: Thomson Gale, 2004. 195-210. University of Tasmania. 20 September 2006 <http://webpac.lib.utas.edu.au.ezproxy.utas. edu.au/e_reserve/HEA104789829.PDF>.
• Hughes, Mary Joe. "Michael Cunningham's The Hours and Postmodern Artistic Re-Presentation." Critque 45.4 (2004): 349-361. Proquest. 14 September 2006 <http:// proquest.umi.com/>.
• Olk, Claudia. "Vision, Intermediality, and Spectatorship in Mrs. Dalloway and The Hours." American Studies 49.2 (2004): 191-217. University of Tasmania. 20 September 2006 <http://ezproxy.utas.edu.au/login?url=http://webpac.lib.utas. edu.au/e_reserve/HEA104790769.PDF>.

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