This thesis discusses the origin and evolution of the ''dumb blonde'' stereotype in American cinema from the 1950s onwards and takes a look at why this stereotype does not seem as prevalent in...Show moreThis thesis discusses the origin and evolution of the ''dumb blonde'' stereotype in American cinema from the 1950s onwards and takes a look at why this stereotype does not seem as prevalent in contemporary times anymore.Show less
This BA thesis focuses on the perception and representation gayspeech as used by the character Kurt Hummel in the TV-series Glee (2009-2015). This has been analyzed by looking into online discourse...Show moreThis BA thesis focuses on the perception and representation gayspeech as used by the character Kurt Hummel in the TV-series Glee (2009-2015). This has been analyzed by looking into online discourse on his speech during the run of the show and how this compares to the gayspeak used by real life people. This thesis also looks at the examples used by these people and how they differ in opinion on the matter. The analysis suggests that the gayspeak used by Kurt Hummel has been made slightly stereotypical and therefore not at all representative of a large part of the male gay community.Show less
This thesis conducts a comparison between Aesop's original of the fable "The Cock and the Jasp", and Henryson's changed version as recorded in his Middle Scottish fable collection "The Morall...Show moreThis thesis conducts a comparison between Aesop's original of the fable "The Cock and the Jasp", and Henryson's changed version as recorded in his Middle Scottish fable collection "The Morall Fabillis of Esope the Phrygian. This comparison shows how Henryson has added multiple details to the original narrative of the fable. It is argued that these additions cause a shift in the target audience of the fable's moral, and that some details are added to justify the behaviour of lower classes, while others are implemented to further incriminate members of higher classes. This thesis ultimately argues that the criticism of this fable is mainly directed to the higher estates.Show less
This research discusses whether male authors sexually objectify their female characters in comparison to female authors. This was done by analysing two classic and two contemporary fiction novels...Show moreThis research discusses whether male authors sexually objectify their female characters in comparison to female authors. This was done by analysing two classic and two contemporary fiction novels each by male and female American authors. These novels were chosen because of their similarities and because they feature a male protagonist who narrates the story. The novels were analysed for phrases used to describe the female characters appearance and these descriptions were compared to the novels of the opposite gender to check for any sexual objectification. The results revealed that male authors were more likely to sexually objectify their female characters in comparison to female authors. However, due to the size of this research, more research must be done to understand the scale and nuances of this.Show less
In this thesis, the reception of classical mythology in the Old English adaptation of Boethius' 'De consolatione philosophiae' is analysed. It demonstrates that the author of the Old English...Show moreIn this thesis, the reception of classical mythology in the Old English adaptation of Boethius' 'De consolatione philosophiae' is analysed. It demonstrates that the author of the Old English Boethius is familiar with classical mythology, and that he has consciously adapted his material to make it more suitable for his Christian Anglo-Saxon audience unfamiliar with classical mythology.Show less
Gold, jewels and a cross that is able to speak: these elements are nowhere to be found in the Biblical story about the crucifixion of Christ, but they do appear in the Old English poem The Dream of...Show moreGold, jewels and a cross that is able to speak: these elements are nowhere to be found in the Biblical story about the crucifixion of Christ, but they do appear in the Old English poem The Dream of the Rood. This poem is a retelling of the Biblical story of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection and there are three characters in this poem: the Dreamer, the Cross and Christ. These characters are linked, because they all experience one or multiple physical or mental transformations. The poet intended for these transformations to be an inspiration for the reader of the poem. Especially the transformation of the Dreamer is supposed to be inspirational, because the Dreamer is the most relatable character for the reader through the focus on their human nature. The question that is discussed in this thesis is: what does the transformation of the Dreamer look like and why can it be inspirational for the reader? The suggested answer to this question is that the poet of The Dream of the Rood used the character of the Dreamer to illustrate the life-changing effect that knowledge of the Bible and following the example of Christ can have on a human being. The reader of the poem is encouraged to follow in the footsteps of the Dreamer, the first step being reading The Dream of the Rood.Show less
Eighteenth-century letter-writing was an art governed by many rules, but letter-writers still found the freedom to express their personality and indicate their position within the confines of these...Show moreEighteenth-century letter-writing was an art governed by many rules, but letter-writers still found the freedom to express their personality and indicate their position within the confines of these rules. Using methodology based on the works of Tieken-Boon van Ostade (2009), Nevala (2009), Sairio (2013), among others, this thesis examines the use of referential language in letters written by Francis Napier (1758–1823) to Mary Hamilton (1756–1816) in order to study how this language is used to fashion an identity and signal the relationship between the correspondents. The analysis separates formulaic language, such as opening and closing formulas, from other forms of referential language, such as pronoun usage, nominal references, and intertextual references.Show less
"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen is compared with a couple of books from the popular self-publishing website, Wattpad. It is examined whether Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy fit the archetypes...Show more"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen is compared with a couple of books from the popular self-publishing website, Wattpad. It is examined whether Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy fit the archetypes of 'good girl" and "bad boy" respectively and whether their relationship can be classified as "enemies to lovers."Show less
