Image licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
In the early 20th century, a French novelist named Marcel Proust wrote a massive, seven-part novel called Remembrance of Things Past, that attempted to capture the strange and subjective nature of time and memory. It is considered by many to be one of history’s greatest novels and Proust’s greatest literary achievement. In this audio story, an author and philosopher discusses the concepts of time and memory in Proust’s work. Listen to learn about Proust’s ideas about time and memory, and what those ideas might have to teach us today.
Story Length: 5:31
© 2005 National Public Radio, Inc. Used with the permission of NPR. All rights reserved.
12/31/2005
https://app.listenwise.com/students/lessons/361-proust-memory-and-our-experience-of-time
Summarize Proust’s beliefs about time and memory, based on the details of the audio story.
In what ways is "In Search of Lost Time" a better title for Proust’s book than "Remembrance of Things Past"?
What details suggest that memory may have had special significance for Proust?
What is meant when de Botton says that Proust was a “philosopher of happiness”? How do Proust’s themes factor into this definition?
How are the themes in Proust’s work especially relevant to American culture today?