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Twentieth century American fiction assimilates archetypes of traditional mythologies, in particular the hero archetype, to create a contemporary mythology which relays social issues relevant to its age. This is first approached by creating a theoretical framework, which primarily consists of both Jungian theories of the collective unconscious and the model on which Joseph Campbell based his conception of the archetype in what is known as myth criticism. The theoretical framework also introduces and describes the graphic novel and its use of characterisation distinctive to post-modern fiction. The Sandman, which is the subject of this study, is then contextualised against the backdrop of the evolution of the American comic book, with its influence of folklore, mythology and visual presentation. Through an overview and analysis of The Sandman series as a whole, as well as a reading of its pivotal narrative, The Kindly Ones, this thesis explores the way in which The Sandman fulfils its purpose of integrating an archetypal hero into contemporary mythology. This is achieved by validating claims proposing the existence of a contemporary mythology through an analysis of Morpheus, The Sandman's protagonist and his unique heroic journey. The conclusion reached is that The Sandman indeed represents a contemporary mythology that contains a new form of social commentary, incorporating archetypes from traditional mythology and re-evaluating the role of the hero in this day and age. / Afrikaans & Theory of Literature / M. A. (Theory of Literature)

This research report explores the link between the novels of Ingrid Winterbach / Lettie Viljoen, a third culture and the neo-Victorian novel. The study is therefore situated within the cultural-philosophical framework of a third culture, which implies that the two cultures of science and literature do not function as separate disciplines, but as an organic unit. Researchers in the interdiscipline of literature and science identify the Age of Science (1879–1914) – including the Victorian era (1837–1901) – as a historical period where the existence of such a third culture was observed. This period was characterised by numerous scientific discoveries, and Darwin’s theory of evolution generated heated debates in Victorian society. Nineteenth-century literature (and specifically the Victorian novel) therefore reflects the spirit of an age where the interaction between science and literature was particularly evident. In our information-driven society, the focus is once again on scientific discovery and dissemination of knowledge, prompting social critics to typify the current period as “neo-” or “retro-Victorian”. The contemporary imagination still problematises Darwin’s theory of evolution, and fiction such as Winterbach’s therefore not only renegotiates the fixed modernistic boundaries between science and literature, but also revisits the nineteenth- century genres simptomatic of a similar third culture. Winterbach’s novels (1984–2006) display a distinctive predisposition towards natural history and Darwinistic principles and are therefore postmodern adaptations of nineteenth-century conventions. Darwinistic concepts such as growth, metamorphosis,transformation, evolution and the origin, naming and extinction of species are therefore accentuated. Winterbach’s fictionalisation of a nineteenth-century worldview can be linked to the work of her ancestors in the Afrikaans literary tradition, Eugène Marais and C. Louis Leipoldt (both amateur scientists). Her popularisation of scientific knowledge and revisitation of Victorian codes also link her to a neo-Victorian novelistic movement (a contemporary permutation of the Victorian tradition). Her oeuvre therefore also displays similarities to that of her British contemporary, A.S. Byatt, a prominent neo-Victorian novelist. An exploration of the natural world in this tradition, however, also implies an exploration of supernatural spheres, a trend which is equally evident in texts by congeners such as (George) Eliot, Marais, Leipoldt, Winterbach and Byatt. / Afrikaans / D.Litt. et Phil. (Afrikaans and Theory of Literature)

The aim of this study is to explore the importance of love in its various manifestations in the lives of the Harry Potter characters and its power to consequently influence the paths that they eventually choose to walk. Love is investigated as the reason behind the choice between good and evil as well as paradoxically both a fortifying as well as a destructive force. Furthermore, it attempts to examine the importance that love plays in the healthy or dysfunctional development of the characters. Numerous philosophies and theories that span two different eras will form the theoretical framework of this research paper. There will be a constant interplay between the theories and the main text, that is, the seven Harry Potter books that together represent the Harry Potter series. Additionally, the author‟s opinion acquired from invaluable fan interviews will be utilized in order to improve the understanding of the characters motivations. The introduction is a brief explanation of key terms and theories that are essential to the exploration of love in the Harry Potter series. The study comprises five chapters. The first three chapters are concerned with the three main manifestations of love represented in the series, namely; parental love, friendship and romance respectively. Chapter Four focuses on the adaptation of the novels into movies and the subsequent result that this has on the depiction of love. Chapter Five highlights the finding of the study conducted. / English Studies / M.A. (English)

The thesis of this study revolves around the validity of Tshivenda literature as an authorative commentary on Mission Work in Venda. The value of literary works by selected Tshivenda writers is explored on three important directions: (a) as a source of information on the Vhavenda world-view which is an important aspect in the Vhavenda's understanding of the Missionary message; (b) as a source of challenge to missiology, and (c) as a source of basis for an in-depth contextual missiology. The well-meaning contributions of the German Missionaries is appreciated. Their influence through the spreading of Lutheranism and also in the birth of Tshivenda literature is clearly recognized. My task has not only been to see these positive contributions, but also to problematise and explore both the missionary instrumentality and the local responses that are reflected in the Tshivenda literature. Our first four chapters introduce the thesis, they cover political history of the Vhavenda which is fundamental in our understanding of their world-view and the early missionary works in Venda. Selected Tshivenda novels become the object of inquiry in the fifth chapter. The novels help us in our evaluation of Missionary Christianity. A wide variety of issues are contained in these novels which are significant in Mission work. The sixth chapter concentrates on selected Tshivenda short stories. In two of these short stories the issue of racism is highlighted. The seventh chapter looks into a few Tshivenda Poems. In two of these poems the Missionary-rejected name for God, Nwali, is heavily used. The last chapter contains the essential commentary of indigenous Tshivenda literature on Missionary Christianity as well as the implications for both global and local Missiology. / Missiology. / M.(Theology)

本論文由作者／編輯群、文本、文化三大脈絡切入，以此觀察晚清四大小說之一的《月月小說》。藉由此環環相扣三者，以考察《月月小說》作為一本小說、文學刊物之主體性，及其在文學史、小說發展史上的意義。 第一章緒論，說明本論文之研究動機、相關文獻回顧，以及研究方法與步驟，以此作為本論文之基礎；第二章討論《月月小說》聚合的作者／編輯群體，探討其小說觀、知識狀態及編輯行為，我們可從中了解，《月月小說》除了「啟蒙」的重責大任外，更具備了小說休閒、趣味、通俗的本色。而小說家們選擇了融合新舊的文化道路，以此回應當時社會的諸多問題。 第三章討論小說敘事的轉變，透過對傳統小說技巧挪用的考察，以及對「譯」、「述」的梳理，可知《月月小說》對於「小說」文類具有高度的自覺與嘗試；第四章為小說題材類型論，將《月月小說》的小說文本分為趣味、道德、啟蒙三大部分考察，即便就表面看來十分不精準且雜亂的分類，仔細探究後，仍可見其中各自的特性與相互對話之處；第五章討論小說的時事與社會關注，以文本世界為中心，考察小說如何重寫時事。可以發現，《月月小說》雖揭露、陳列許多問題，但卻用小說的幽默、趣味筆調消解了當中的重量，用笑聲翻轉了政令、美德的價值。 第六章著眼於《月月小說》其他文類的作品，由此我們發現，《月月小說》透過多種文類去支撐、呼應其刊物主旨，但在隨筆、燈謎等文字背後，卻折射出了知識遊戲的光芒，凸顯了對啟蒙的質疑，以及其中休閒的可能。 第七章為結論，總述先前論點，並提出本論文之觀察：《月月小說》在近、現代小說史上，正巧連接了「新小說」（文學啟蒙）和「禮拜六」（文學休閒）兩者，並為充滿啟蒙、現代性智識體驗的晚清小說，開啟了其他面向的風景。 / I attempt to analyze The All-Story Monthly(《月月小說》) which is one of the 4 modern times novel magazines in 3 ways that are authors-editors, text and culture. I attempt to derive the subjectivity of The All-Story Monthly from these 3 ways, and elucidate its meaning of literary history and the development of fiction history. The first chapter is an introduction of this essay. In second chapter, I discuss the authors-editors. I conclude that in addition to enlightment, there is an interesting gist of The All-Story Monthly . In third chapter, I discuss the transition of narrative skills. To study the using of traditional narrative skills and analyze the texts of translations, we could comprehend that the authors tried various methods to vary narrative skills with highly conscientious of “novel”. In forth chapter, I discuss the classified catalogues of The All-Story Monthly. In my opinion, there is a distinct theme of each catalogue and they all rely on the gist of the magazine. In fifth chapter, I study the difference between novels and essays which using same social materials. It is clear to perceive that authors using an interesting way to “rewrite” news or histories. In sixth chapter, I deliberate about the texts of other literary genres. There is a leisure literary phenomenon in these texts. In seventh chapter, the conclusion, I present that The All-Story Monthly is a significant magazine of Chinese modern times literary history. It is a transition stage between Xin Xiao Shou(新小說) (literary enlightment) and Li Bai Liu(禮拜六) (leisure literature).

<p style="text-align: justify;">U radu se, primenom feminističke književne kritike, analiziraju rodni stereotipi u svih četrnaest romana iz lektire za drugi ciklus obrazovanja. Pokazuje se da su rodni stereotipi prisutni u različitim aspektima ovih romana, kao &scaron;to su zastupljenost i konstrukcija likova, sadržaj i način oblikovanja priče. Takođe, predstavljaju se metodički modeli nastavnih interpretacija ovih romana, koji uvažavaju rodnu perspektivu. Primena ovih modela omogućava da učenice i učenici prepoznaju rodne stereotipe, razumeju njihovu funkciju i zauzmu kritički odnos prema njima.</p> / <p style="text-align: justify;">The dissertation analyzes gender stereotypes by applying feminist literary criticism in all fourteen novels included in the second cycle of the primary education curriculum. It is indicated that gender stereotypes are present in various aspects of the novels, such as characters&rsquo; presence and construction, content and method of creating stories. Furthermore, the methodical models of educational interpretations of these novels, which respect the gender perspective, are also presented. The application of these models allows pupils to recognize gender stereotypes, understand their function and take a critical attitude towards them.</p>

Thèse numérisée par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Cette étude se fixe un triple objectif. Il s’agira d’abord de décrire les représentations textuelles du rire dans Le Roman comique de Scarron, en établissant d’une part les conditions de possibilité du comique et, d’autre part, en montrant la dette qu’a contractée le genre de l’histoire comique du XVIIe siècle auprès de la poétique de la comédie classique. Nous préciserons ensuite la nature et le sens à donner aux stratégies dramaturgiques mises en œuvre par Scarron pour rendre compte de l’humanité comique, tantôt disqualifiée, toujours remise en question. Nous mettrons enfin en évidence l’originalité de la structure du roman de Scarron qui accueille contradictoirement des esthétiques ennemies. Expérience de l’insubordination et affirmation d’une conscience critique, le rire de Scarron, en même temps qu’il brouille les hiérarchies culturelles, littéraires et idéologiques de l’âge classique, induit une rhétorique de la lecture comique et délivre une vision sceptique du monde. Innervée par ce rire protéiforme et ambivalent, notre étude propose donc une interprétation globale du roman scarronien à partir de l’analyse détaillée de sa poétique. / The following study has three main goals. We will first describe the textual representations of laughter in Scarron’s Le Roman comique, establishing on the one hand the conditions of possibility of the comic and by showing, on the other hand, the debt that the seventeenth century’s comic novels have contracted towards the poetics of the comedy. We will then identify the nature and meaning of the dramaturgical strategies used by Scarron to represent his comical characters, sometimes disqualified but always questionned. Finally, we will highlight the originality of Scarron’s novel structure that hosts contradictory aesthetics. While it blurs the frontiers of cultural, literary and ideological hierarchies, Scarron’s laughter, an experience of insubordination and an affirmation of a critical consciousness, induces a certain way of reading comedy and delivers a skeptical view of classical age’s world. Animated by this protean and ambivalent laughter, our study proposes a global interpretation of Scarron’s novel based on a detailed analysis of his poetics.

Theodore Fontane is best known as the author of numerous women's novels, which he wrote in the last ten years of his life. This diploma thesis deals with the topic of women's emancipation on the basis of textual analysis of two latter novels by Theodore Fontane - Effi Briest and Mathilde Möhring. In the first part, it characterizes the topic of the period women's emancipation and puts the author's biography into context. In the second part, it creates the picture of position of the main women characters. The last part describes the personal development of the women characters, on the basis of which I determine how much the women's emancipation reflects in the author's work and what is his attitude towards it. This thesis deals with the interpretation of the author's intent to illustrate the creation of an advanced character like Mathilde Möhring. Key words: Theodore Fontane, women's emancipation, Effi Briest, Mathilde Möhring, development of women's characters, women's novels, interpretation, author's intent, counterpoint