This thesis delves into the concept of the queer 'Other' in Gothic literature, using Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein', Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' and Oscar Wilde's 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' as...Show moreThis thesis delves into the concept of the queer 'Other' in Gothic literature, using Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein', Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' and Oscar Wilde's 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' as examples to analyse the discourse surrounding the figure of the queer Other in nineteenth-century society. Key concepts are the (sexually) queer monster and queer(ing) space and social constructs.Show less
Romance fiction inevitably reveals much of the romantic values and traditions of its time, reflecting cultural and societal changes that promoted changes in romance literature. Despite the many...Show moreRomance fiction inevitably reveals much of the romantic values and traditions of its time, reflecting cultural and societal changes that promoted changes in romance literature. Despite the many changes and interpretations romance fiction has seen, the idea persists that romantic comedies promote fantasies rather than reflect real life. However, a genre must draw from related cultural phenomena in order to persist. As our romantic values and our experiences change, so do the ways these stories are told. Romantic comedy engages with our discourse on romance and relationships and though they may be packaged differently today, they are essentially what they have always been: stories about relationships, about intimacy, about the human experience of connecting, intimately, with another. Modern works such as Sex Education, Wanderlust and Grace and Frankie demonstrate how the genre of romantic comedy has redefined itself. These television shows reveal an awareness of the genre’s conventions, the scepticism, the struggle and yet the wish persists to believe in the happily-ever after.Show less
This thesis explores the impact of evolutionary theory on narrative form in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and Through the Looking–Glass and What Alice Found There (1872)....Show moreThis thesis explores the impact of evolutionary theory on narrative form in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and Through the Looking–Glass and What Alice Found There (1872). It argues that Lewis Carroll was inspired and influenced by Charles Darwin’s evolutionary theory in writing the Alice books.Show less
This thesis will examine the way in which women in William Shakespeare's first tetralogy of history plays can be compared to women featuring in the second tetralogy.
This MA thesis contains analyses of the status of same-sex desire in late medieval Europe and researches how same-sex desire is depicted in three Arthurian stories written during this period: the...Show moreThis MA thesis contains analyses of the status of same-sex desire in late medieval Europe and researches how same-sex desire is depicted in three Arthurian stories written during this period: the Lai de Lanval, the Prose Lancelot and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The thesis examines whether these depictions engage with or react to the socio-historical circumstances around same-sex desire in the late medieval period.Show less
'Interpreting Others' assesses the way in which J. M. Coetzee's novels address the philosophical contest between humanism and antihumanism. The thesis highlights the opposing understandings of the...Show more'Interpreting Others' assesses the way in which J. M. Coetzee's novels address the philosophical contest between humanism and antihumanism. The thesis highlights the opposing understandings of the human subject exercised by the two perspectives. Specifically, it foregrounds the issue of the possibility of understanding other minds as a battleground in the humanism conflict and places this question in a literary and ethical context. A chapter each is dedicated to analyzing the ways this conflict is manifested in The Life & Times of Michael K, Disgrace, and Elizabeth Costello. The author uses the theories of Deborah Knight, who attempted to bridge the apparently intractable conflict between exponents of the humanist and antihumanist subjects, to explain Coetzee's position, which is argued to straddle both camps, demonstrating a thoughtful criticism of humanism which nevertheless remains attached to the humanist subject and the possibility of understanding between individuals.Show less
In this MA thesis, the discussion focuses on a fourteenth century Middle Dutch text called the ‘Herzog von Braunschweig’ or ‘de hertog van Brunswijk’ of which the only remaining copy was found in a...Show moreIn this MA thesis, the discussion focuses on a fourteenth century Middle Dutch text called the ‘Herzog von Braunschweig’ or ‘de hertog van Brunswijk’ of which the only remaining copy was found in a German dialect in a fifteenth century manuscript. The thesis compares the motives and literary themes of the text in the background of fourteenth century Middle Dutch and Middle German traditions and places it in the first half of the fourteenth century. Secondly, a comparison with a part of the Middle Dutch text of the 'Roman van Heinrich en Margriete van Limborch' proves a relationship between the two texts.Show less
Le roman de banlieue réaliste-son émancipation-la déghettoisation-la trame de l'intrigue dans Viscéral-La perception et la reception du personnage dans Kiffe kiffe demain- L'apport culturel et...Show moreLe roman de banlieue réaliste-son émancipation-la déghettoisation-la trame de l'intrigue dans Viscéral-La perception et la reception du personnage dans Kiffe kiffe demain- L'apport culturel et idéologique dans Kiffer sa raceShow less
Derrière la vitre (Behind the Glass) is a 1970 novel by a French writer Robert Merle. It focuses on the hour-by-hour recital of events of one day, 22 March 1968, that led to occupation of the...Show moreDerrière la vitre (Behind the Glass) is a 1970 novel by a French writer Robert Merle. It focuses on the hour-by-hour recital of events of one day, 22 March 1968, that led to occupation of the Sorbonne's newly built campus in Nanterre and started further student protest movement of May 1968. The same series of events is presented through focal points of several characters, including students, professors and Algerian workers living the Nanterre bidonville close to the faculty construction site, allowing to examine and compare their experiences. The spatial imagery of Nanterre itself plays an important role in the narrative, and is often compared and opposed to the new concrete-and-glass faculty building. The metaphor of «glass» separating idealistically inspired students from the immigrant workers, with whose very hands this «glass» had been built, and, more broadly, from France in general is essential to the novel. The paradox that gave birth to this research is in the apparent contradiction between, on one hand, multiple descriptions of the emptiness and facelessness of Nanterre from different points of view and, on the other hand, a heavy corpus of historical associations that these same spaces evoke in the the collective memory of the characters. The former allows to apply the concept of the non-place to the humal spaces in the text, while the latter opens a possibility to speak of the «site of memory» (lieu de mémoire) value of the described places. Using a thoroughly presented methodological and conseptual framework, I am aiming at elaborating, how paradoxal this particularity, in fact, is, and at answering the question, if the spatial imagery of Nanterre in Derrière la vitre, described during the one particular historical turning point, can be geocritically read as a non-place in the process of becoming a lieu de mémoire.Show less
Christine de Pizan was one of the very first female authors in medieval Europe. She produced texts in which women are defended against misogyny. In her treatises Christine makes use of existing...Show moreChristine de Pizan was one of the very first female authors in medieval Europe. She produced texts in which women are defended against misogyny. In her treatises Christine makes use of existing misogynistic texts and uses them in her advantage in order to paint a positive picture of women. In addition she reprimands authors who besmirch the reputation of females. This thesis focuses on the manner in which she defends women against misogyny (which was common in medieval Europe) while she uses contemporary sources containing the very misogynistic ideas she argues against.Show less
Jonathan Edwards’ “Personal Narrative” is a chronological, retrospective account of Edwards’ spiritual life interposed with comments and reflections on his experiences with the Divine. He describes...Show moreJonathan Edwards’ “Personal Narrative” is a chronological, retrospective account of Edwards’ spiritual life interposed with comments and reflections on his experiences with the Divine. He describes multiple powerful, highly emotional encounters as he recounts his religious development from his childhood to the present. It stands as a central text of eighteenth-century spirituality, a touchstone of religious thinking in this period. This thesis argues that concerns with the fallibility of language are central to Jonathan Edwards’ “Personal Narrative” (c.1740), as he struggles adequately to describe spiritual experience in words even as that experience is said to go beyond language, including in its emotional and bodily effects.Show less
This thesis examines the role of natural elements in the fairy tales of Madame d'Aulnoy, written in the 17th century. It was assumed that nature did not play an important role in this century,...Show moreThis thesis examines the role of natural elements in the fairy tales of Madame d'Aulnoy, written in the 17th century. It was assumed that nature did not play an important role in this century, however, the opposite is true. Moreover, fairy tales were in vogue during this period and Madame d'Aulnoy contributed to this popularity. She had a detailed and innovative writing style and she had knowledge about animals and nature. This thesis aims to prove that nature was present in the literature during this century and more specifically in fairy tales, by answering the following questions: what natural elements does Madame d'Aulnoy use? ; How does she uses these elements? ; and finally, based on the work of Trivisani-Moreau (2001), we tried to determine the role of these elements by focusing on a thematic analysis of trees.Show less
Modern Beowulf scholarship found its origin in 1815 with the publication of the Latin translation of Beowulf by the Icelandic-Danish scholar Grímur Jónsson Thorkelín. Although not the first to...Show moreModern Beowulf scholarship found its origin in 1815 with the publication of the Latin translation of Beowulf by the Icelandic-Danish scholar Grímur Jónsson Thorkelín. Although not the first to tackle the Old English Beowulf, as Sharon Turner had in fact translated a selection of the poem to Modern English as early as 1805, Thorkelín was the first to provide a complete translation of Beowulf in any language. As such, he was the first to introduce its cast of characters to the critics and other translators. Since then, Beowulf has received sustained critical attention. The fact that Beowulf has been available for critical review for such a long period of time makes it impossible for a single person to read, discuss, or even just be aware of all the critical works published on Beowulf. Consequently, the current study cannot cover all that has been written on Grendel’s mother and her representation; it does, however, attempt to paint a picture of the evolving scholarly reception of Grendel’s mother by discussing some of its major developments.Show less
This thesis focuses on the representation of Jewish women in Czech Holocaust prose, providing a comparative analysis of Arnošt Lustig's The Unloved: From the Diary of Perla S., Jan Otčenášek's...Show moreThis thesis focuses on the representation of Jewish women in Czech Holocaust prose, providing a comparative analysis of Arnošt Lustig's The Unloved: From the Diary of Perla S., Jan Otčenášek's Romeo, Juliet and Darkness and Ladislav Fuks's The Cremator.Show less
