A study of the concept of the American exceptionalisim in the novels of Terrorist(2006) and Expensive people(1968) based on the actantial discourse

Document Type : Original Article

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10.30465/lir.2021.30613.1135

Abstract

This paper will study the concept of American exceptionalism which defines America as an exception to the rest of the world has been depicted in different novels and media in two different American novels. The analysis based on the actantial Discourse which is a semiotic one could shed more light on this concept in the contemporary American literature .According to this concept, America is exceptional in life style and it can be considered as a role model politically, economically, artistically etc. for the rest of the world. Therefore America will be a symbol of free and prosperous life and democracy. This American exceptionalism could be followed in two novels: Terrorist (2006) by Updike and Expensive People (1972) by Oates. Although these two novels present American exceptionalism in two different perspectives, the basic concept can be traced in both novels. This paper will read two novels through semiotic analysis of the actantial Discourse in a broader concept in literature.

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Literary Interdisciplinary Research

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 26 March 2021

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