The application of creativity theory to literary texts : an exploration of the use of lateral thinking techniques in selected texts

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore the under-researched relationship between creativity and the analysis of literary texts. This relationship has not been directly investigated in literary theory, and this study aims to explore whether and how creativity theory might be useful in the field of literary analysis. The dissertation briefly explores the perception of creativity in creative writing courses. The term "creative writing" embodies the idea of creativity, and therefore, this research could not ignore a brief investigation of any existing link between creativity and creative writing. For the purposes of this research, two of Professor Edward de Bono's lateral thinking techniques, challenge and provocation, are explored and investigated in four selected literary texts, in order to establish lateral thinking as a theory of creativity that could be applied to textual analysis. The four selected texts are: Barnes, J. (2011) The Sense of an Ending. London: Jonathan Cape. Brown, D. (2003). The Da Vinci Code. London: Transworld Publishers Ltd. Hosseini, K. (2003). The Kite Runner. New York: Riverhead Books. Rushdie, S. (1982). Midnight's Children. London: Jonathan Cape Firstly, this research aims to investigate instances of lateral thinking techniques in the four selected literary texts. The investigation adopted a qualitative approach. Textual analysis on the selected texts was conducted in order to explore and identify the use of challenge and provocation in the four novels. Secondly, nine semi-structured interviews with students and graduates of English at Masters Level at the University of Malta were conducted. The purpose of the interviews was to elicit the perceptions of participants regarding creativity and lateral thinking. The results of this research demonstrate that instances of two lateral thinking techniques, challenge and provocation, could be identified in the literary texts. The discussion on lateral thinking in the selected texts provides an exploration of some of the surprising elements, which cause a shift in perception and a restructuring of thought-patterns on the part of the reader. Participants did not elicit excerpts where they thought the novels were challenging or provoking in terms of lateral thinking. However, since only two participants claimed to be familiar with lateral thinking, the participants could not be expected to generate an in-depth analysis of challenge and provocation in the selected texts.