This thesis contains an original novella, Desk, fifteen accompanying microfictions, and a critical commentary linking the genres of the novella and microfiction. The thesis examines the forms of the novella and microfiction, and aims to demonstrate some of the similarities between the two forms, as well as exploring the notion of genre. The microfictions reflect the themes of Desk, dealing with sex, love, fear and imagination, but also hint at larger stories which their small space seems, at first glance, to refuse. Both the microfictions and the novella, however, seem to have a shared purpose of epiphany and of writing in ways other than novels or poetry use, yet paradoxically, microfiction and the novella often draw on these genres. Again, the novella's narrative is itself reflected in the microfictions, thus suggesting that there is some unity of the two genres, despite their palpable differences. Complementing the creative work, the critical commentary explores both the forms of microfiction and the novella, and also the notion of genre itself, and argues that both the novella and microfiction are inter-generic, using techniques often associated with other genres as part of their effect. The commentary also explores the creative process underpinning each of the pieces, and shows how and why this may be relevant to understanding generic purposes. The concluding chapter of the commentary suggests that genre as a concept is more open and fluid than it may first appear, and may be more fruitfully defined through creative writing, rather than formal critical history, or abstract definitions.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:497110 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Howitt-Dring, Lisa Holly |
| Publisher | Cardiff University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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