In literary research, the term ‘outsider’ seems almost absent. It appears slightly more often as a more general notion, but usually alongside three other terms (also not always well defined) to which it is subordinate: Stranger, Other and misfit. Within this heterogenous group, it acts as either a synonym or at best, as a notion close in meaning to the other three, a complement. It seems though that the term ‘outsider’ when referred to a literary character may, as an interpretative category (especially in first-person-narrative prose) prove useful and productive in terms of opening up the interpretation and analysis of a literary work towards dimensions other than those normally inhabited by the three usual companions of the ‘outsider’.
JavaScript is turned off in your web browser. Turn it on to take full advantage of this site, then refresh the page.