Theresa Hak Kyung Cha's 'Dictée'

Theresa Hak Kyung Cha’s novel, Dictée, may seem simple on the surface, but it is complex and enriching if read with a critical and mindful eye. Each segment is separated into different sections that are based on the nine Greek muses and tales centered on the themes of the muses based on the themes of suffering. From this sentence alone, it may become apparent to some that it has some elements that are similar to those classic epic tales, such as Homer’s Odyssey, which has been called a contemporary “epic” by critics. I can see why the critics may label the book as being a contemporary “epic”, however although it roughly follows Aristotle’s understanding of epic poetry, the novel itself can’t be generalized in a genre as it incorporates complex fragmentation of space, imagery and themes that underlie, making it extremely difficult in categorizing it. …show more content…
These elements are present within Dictée and there are plenty of examples in order to provide to showcase this. At the beginning of the novel on page 7 the lines, “O Muse, tell me the story Of all these things. O Goddess, daughter of Zeus Beginning wherever you wish, tell even us” (Cha). The diction of the words in this quotation gives the reader the feeling or tone of talking or looking for guidance from a divine being. Particularly words such as muse, goddess, and daughter of Zeus have the connotation of being associated with divine beings or those similar to it. By having phrases such as “tell me the story, tell even us” etc., it