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The Emergence of the Grotesque Hero in the Contemporary American Novel, 1919-1972

This study shows how the Grotesque Hero evolves from the grotesque victim in selected American novels from 1919 to 1972. In these novels, contradictory forces create a cultural dilemma. When a character is especially vulnerable to that dilemma, he becomes caught and twisted into a grotesque victim. The Grotesque Hero finds a solution to the dilemma, not by escaping his grotesque victimization, but by accepting it and making it work for him. The novels paired according to a particular contradictory dilemma include: Winesburg, Ohio and The Crying of Lot 49, As I Lay Dying and Wise Blood, Miss Lonelyhearts and The Dick Gibson Show, Cabot Wright Begins and Second Skin, The Day of the Locust and The Lime Twig, and Expensive People and The Sunlight Dialogues.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc663136
Date05 1900
CreatorsReed, Max R.
ContributorsHughes, Robert L., Mitchell, Giles R., Kobler, J. F. (Jasper Fred), 1928-
PublisherNorth Texas State University
Source SetsUniversity of North Texas
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis or Dissertation
Formatiii, 303 leaves, Text
Coverage1919/1972
RightsPublic, Reed, Max R., Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights

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