Hunger · Chapter
Prefatory Note explained
George Egerton introduces Knut Hamsun and his first novel 'Hunger', describing the controversial reception of his work, his unique stylistic innovations in Norwegian literature, and his psychological exploration of the human soul, particula
What happens
George Egerton introduces Knut Hamsun and his first novel 'Hunger', describing the controversial reception of his work, his unique stylistic innovations in Norwegian literature, and his psychological exploration of the human soul, particularly the abnormal and insane.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the narrative climax because the protagonist reaches a psychological peak of delusional triumph—believ…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Hunger and Deprivation
The preface describes 'Hunger' as 'a shriek of hunger in all its moods' and a 'psychopathological study of the hunger of soul and body'.
- Psychological Fragmentation
Egerton highlights Hamsun's mastery in probing 'unexplored crannies in the human soul' and the 'mysterious territory of uncontrollable, half-conscious impulses'.
- Artistic Struggle and Creativity
The preface discusses Hamsun's struggle against conservative critics, his innovative use of language, and his 'superb contempt for everything that was not of aesthetic value'.
Characters to notice
- The Narrator
The protagonist of 'Hunger', whose psychological and physical suffering is the focus of the novel.
Key passages
“It made a great sensation; was as the flash of some strange meteor, holding perhaps a menace to social life, across the firmament.”
The novel caused a huge stir, like a mysterious meteor that seemed to threaten society.
Describes the shocking impact of 'Hunger' upon its release.
“Words were gold in his hands, to be tossed about rough as unwashed nuggets, or beaten into a delicate, fantastic filigree; language became a plastic material, capable of expressing the most elusive half-thoughts, the most unrecorded emotions.”
Hamsun treated words like precious metal, using them roughly or finely to capture subtle and unspoken feelings.
Highlights Hamsun's innovative and masterful use of language.
“None the less it remains a shriek of hunger in all its moods, a psychopathological study of the hunger of soul and body, the 'art of hungering with beauty.'”
Nevertheless, the novel is a cry of hunger in every form, a psychological study of both spiritual and physical starvation, the 'art of hungering beautifully.'
Summarizes the core theme and artistic approach of 'Hunger'.
