Literary Form and Ethical Content

Abstract The paper offers a qualified endorsement of Terry Eagleton’s striking claim that “a work’s moral outlook … may be secreted as much in its form content”. A number points are raised defence the claim: an argument for inseparability, under certain conditions, and content literary work; idea content, not derived principle, but inward-facing interpretation grounded ethical vocabulary; possibility internal external perspectives on fictional characters; emphasis emotions expressed in, rather than caused by, narrative. Three examples explored, to show how vocabulary, syntax, implicature, tone, contribute emergence salience. consequence drawn is stance readers take scene or incident partially shaped by narrative modes presentation. overall perspective aesthetic autonomism: view value work literature distinct from, reducible to, any instrumental values (positive negative) attributed work.