On Footnotes by Hilaire Belloc
The book explores the concept of footnotes and their role in literature, arguing that they are a means to subvert traditional narrative structures and challenge readers' perceptions. It critiques the notion that footnotes are merely supplementary or marginal notes, instead positing them as integral to the text's meaning. The work employs satire and irony to examine the relationship between authorship, authority, and interpretation.
By Hilaire Belloc · First published 1906 · Genre: Essay, Satire, Non-fiction · 2,557 words
First lines
It is pleasant to consider the various forms of lying, because that study manifests the creative ingenuity of man and at the same time affords the diverting spectacle of the dupe. That kind of lying which, of the lesser sorts, has amused me most is the use of the footnote in modern history.
It began with no intention of lying at all. The first modest footnote was an occasional reinforcement of argument in the text. The writer could not break his narrative; he had said something unusual; he wanted his reader to accept it; and so he said, in little, "If you doubt this, look up my authority so and so. " That was the age of innocence. Then came the serpent, or rather a whole brood of them.
What this Textopian page supports
On Footnotes is listed on Textopian as an essay by Hilaire Belloc, dated 1906 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: Hilaire Belloc
- Date: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Essay, Satire, Non-fiction, Literary Criticism, Historical Commentary
- Length: 2,557 words
- Structure: 1 section, 26 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for On Footnotes by Hilaire Belloc
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering On Footnotes?
- How does this essay by Hilaire Belloc fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Essay first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- On Pedants by Hilaire Belloc
- The Critic As Artist With Some Remarks Upon The Importance Of Discussing Everything by Oscar Wilde
- On People In Books by Hilaire Belloc
- The Two Supreme And Highest Arts by Oscar Wilde
- Dickens by Max Beerbohm
- The Reasonable Press by Hilaire Belloc
Genres
- Essay — The work is a critical and reflective essay on the use and misuse of footnotes in historical writing.
- Satire — The text employs humor and irony to critique the scholarly practice of footnoting, highlighting its absurdities and potential for deception.
- Non-fiction — The work discusses real historical figures and practices, providing factual analysis and commentary.
- Literary Criticism — The text critiques the literary and historical methods of past authors, particularly focusing on their use of footnotes.
Tags
Satire · Social Commentary · Literary Criticism · Footnotes · Humor · Wit · Intellectualism · Academia · Education · History · Philosophy · Cultural Analysis