Tom Wolfe’s "The Bonfire of the Vanities" as a Stylistic Triumph

Examination Thesis , 2014 , 75 Pages , Grade: 1,4

American Studies - Literature

This is a study of Tom Wolfe's unique prose style. The focus is on his most successful novel "The Bonfire of the Vanities", published in 1987. An analysis of journalistic, traditional and satiric influences on Wolfe's writing is supplemented by the systematic dissection of key chapters. Several sections serve as examples of the prose style of important American novelists in order to highlight Wolfe's idiosyncrasies. The strengths and weaknesses of Wolfe's style are summed up in the conclusion.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• I. Introduction
• II. Tom Wolfe's The Bonfire of the Vanities as a Stylistic Triumph
• 1. Development of the Colloquial in American Fiction up to Wolfe
• 2. Wolfe's Call for Realism in Novel Writing
• 3. Prevalent Stylistic Traits
• 3.1. Stylistic Idiosyncrasies
• 3.2. Journalistic Influences
• 3.3. Satiric Elements
• 4. Stylistic Analysis of Selected Chapters
• 4.1. Prologue, “Mutt on Fire”
• 4.2. Chapter 4. “King of the Jungle”
• 4.3. Chapter 6. "A Leader of the People"
• 4.4. Chapter 14. "I Don't Know How to Lie"
• 4.5. Chapter 15. “The Masque of the Red Death”
• III. Conclusion
• IV. Works Consulted

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This study aims to analyze the stylistic choices of Tom Wolfe in his novel The Bonfire of the Vanities, focusing on how his unique writing style contributes to the novel's success. The study will examine the influence of literary realism, journalism, and satire on Wolfe's writing, and how these elements contribute to the novel's overall effect.

• The development of the colloquial in American fiction
• The influence of journalism on Wolfe's writing style
• The use of satire in The Bonfire of the Vanities
• The stylistic analysis of selected chapters
• The relationship between Wolfe's style and the novel's overall effect

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The introduction provides an overview of Tom Wolfe's career as a journalist and novelist, highlighting his unique writing style and his influence on the New Journalism movement. It also discusses the importance of style in literature and the difficulty of defining it.

Chapter 1.2.1. discusses the development of the colloquial in American fiction, tracing its evolution from Washington Irving to Tom Wolfe. It argues that Wolfe's style is a culmination of this trend, incorporating elements of realism, journalism, and satire.

Chapter 4. “King of the Jungle” is a pivotal chapter in the novel, presenting the crisis that accelerates the action. The chapter's stylistic analysis focuses on how Wolfe uses dialogue, scene-by-scene construction, and the recording of status-life symbols to create a vivid and engaging narrative.

Chapter 6. "A Leader of the People" explores the theme of social satire, focusing on the hypocrisy and vanity of the upper class. The chapter's stylistic analysis examines how Wolfe uses language, characterization, and setting to create a satirical portrait of New York City society.

Chapter 14. "I Don't Know How to Lie" is a brilliant example of engaging inner dialogue, realized through a stream of consciousness technique employing broken or one-word sentences. The chapter's stylistic analysis examines how Wolfe uses this technique to reveal the character's inner thoughts and motivations.

Chapter 15. “The Masque of the Red Death” is a satirical portrait of a Manhattan cocktail party, highlighting the superficiality and emptiness of the upper class. The chapter's stylistic analysis examines how Wolfe uses language, characterization, and setting to create a satirical portrait of this social group.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The keywords and focus themes of the text include Tom Wolfe, The Bonfire of the Vanities, New Journalism, literary realism, satire, social commentary, New York City, upper class, and stylistic analysis. The text examines Wolfe's unique writing style and its influence on the novel's success, focusing on his use of colloquial language, journalistic techniques, and satirical elements to create a vivid and engaging portrait of New York City society in the late 1980s.

• College: Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
• Grade: 1,4
• Author: Martin Smollich (Author)
• Publication Year: 2014
• Pages: 75
• Catalog Number: V282538
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656769675
• ISBN (Book): 9783656769774
• Language: English
• Tags: Tom Wolfe, Bonfire, Bonfire of the vanities, prose style, american novel, writing style, wall street, the eighties, man in full, charlotte simmons, stylistic, hyperbole