<p>The purpose of this essay is to analyze how loss affects the identity of the main characters in Toni Morrison’s Sula. An examination of the African-American community in Sula reveals a history of collective loss, both material and non-material, which limits the identity formation of the individual. This burden challenges the protagonists of the novel, Sula and Nel, as they come of age in the 1920s and continues to trouble them throughout their lives. By first defining loss and identity and then examining how loss affects identity in the community, family and individual, this paper will argue that although loss can limit the individual, it can also act as a catalyst for personal growth. Furthermore, I will show that despite the fact that Sula and Nel react differently to loss they both gain a sense of selfhood in the end.</p>

This paper deals with the novel Jazz, written by African-American writer Toni Morrison. The paper argues that the novel deconstructs itself. Also, it illustrates how the jazz music in the novel works as a deconstructing force on the characters and the narrative form. The essay begins with a chapter about deconstructive theory.  Next, there is a brief summary of jazz music – its history and features. Then, there is an analysis which focuses on how jazz music affects the characters. Last, the narrative form is investigated, for instance in terms of the narrator’s tendency to shift between various points of view. / Uppsatsen påbörjades vid Halmstad Högskola med Cecilia Björkén Nyberg som handledare, men slutfördes vid Växjö Universitet. Magisterexamen är sedan uttagen vid Högskolan i Halmstad.

Diss. Ph. D.--English--Uppsala university, 2000. / Bibliogr. p. 243-253. Index.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 55-56).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 40-41).

Thesis (M.A.)--Ohio State University. / Bibliography: leaves 69-70. Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

Thesis (M.A. in English)--Washington State University, August 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on July 15, 2009). "Department of English." Includes bibliographical references (p. 57-59).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--York University, 2003. Graduate Programme in English. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 326-348). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pNQ82819.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2005. / Document formatted into pages. Includes bibliographical references. Abstract available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center; full text release delayed at author's request until 2010 March 24.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references.