One of the most popular forms of literature in Japan is that of “kaidan.,” literally
meaning “strange story,” during the Edo period, but over time “kaidan” has come to
specifically mean stories of “yūrei,” or “Japanese ghosts.” Many Western academic
studies concerning kaidan thus far are concerned with the genre’s shift from religious
didactics to secular entertainment. This is an important evolution to keep in conversation
with this project; However, this study will argue that ghosts work as Edo symbols for
failing boundaries within an isolationist society. Two of the main texts in this project are
translations by Lafcadio Hearn, being “Mimi Nashi Hōichi” and “Jikininki.” The other
two main texts used are translations of “Banchō Sarayashiki” by Zack Davisson. In my
study, I identify breaches of boundaries within social order in these texts using the aid of
Mikhail Bakhtin’s “the grotesque,” Julia Kristeva’s “abject horror,” and Jacques
Derrida’s “hauntology.” / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fau.edu/oai:fau.digital.flvc.org:fau_33448 |
| Contributors | Finch, Travis (author), Swanstrom, Elizabeth (Thesis advisor), Florida Atlantic University (Degree grantor), Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of English |
| Publisher | Florida Atlantic University |
| Source Sets | Florida Atlantic University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation, Text |
| Format | 72 p., application/pdf |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder., http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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