Investigating Desiderius Erasmus’ Copia and Its Semiotic Meaning: A Case Study of Angela Carter’s Nights at the Circus

Abstract

Desiderius Erasmus’ “Copia” is not only inscribed with rhetorical interpretations but also implied with semiotic meanings. This paper starts from the definition, components, and functions of “Copia” and then analyzes Nights at the Circus from two aspects: the abundance of expression and the abundance of subject-matter, through discussing the employment of metaphor and antonomasia, the dividing of a whole into parts, and the tracing of causes in this novel. This research finds that the use of “Copia” can not only contribute to the richness and variety of style but also highlight the characters’ personalities and enable Angela Carter to discuss political and social issues such as patriarchy and individual rights. From a perspective of Bakhtin’s cultural semiotics, the paper aims to explore “Copia” semiotic meanings in literary classics and provide alternative interpretations of this conception in literary criticism.