De l’art de titrer : le titre comme clé de lecture

The art of titling: the title as a key to reading

Abstract

The title of a novel holds paramount importance, as it encapsulates its essence and guides the reader’s interpretation. Authors craft titles with great care, employing various strategies to intrigue, captivate, and spark curiosity. Thus, a literary title serves multiple functions: it centralizes, synthesizes, and represents the content of the work while opening a realm of interpretations and imagination. As a true key to the text, it provides the reader with meaningful clues. The analysis of titles such as East Wind, West Wind by Pearl Buck, Balzac et la Petite Tailleuse chinoise by Dai Sijie, or Rose d'Alger by Nine Moati demonstrates how
significantly they shape the reception of the text. However, the interpretation of a title varies according to the reader’s cultural background: those with extensive knowledge of historical and human realities will perceive it differently from those unfamiliar with them.