My thesis includes a collection of short stories that showcases my growth and
potential as a fiction writer. The thesis also includes a critical introduction that highlights
my aims and the influences on my work.
My introduction seeks to establish the overarching purpose of creative work.
Specifically, I focus on how my work reflects the theme of using projection as a defense
mechanism to cope with internal and external crises that force characters to deal with
undesirable situations or aspects of their personality.
The introduction then expounds on the commonly accepted Freudian definition
of ?projection,? as well as the related Jungian ?shadow.? Both of these psychoanalytic
concepts are closely linked to the doppelg�nger. To expound on the tradition of using
these concepts in literature, I list works that employ these themes and dispute the
traditional association of such themes with invariably tragic endings.
Next, I attempt to explode the common assumption that links projection to
dysfunction by pointing to both maladaptive and adaptive uses of projection. I point out
that people can project both negative and positive aspects of their personality onto outside entities with both positive and negative consequences. I then detail examples
from my stories that reflect these uses of projection.
I go on to further expand the definition of ?projection? by challenging the notion
that people only project aspects of their personality onto other people and that this is a
strictly psychological process, providing additional examples from my work. Finally, I
illuminate how my stories seek to reevaluate the common assumption that the
doppelg�nger and the ?shadow? are figures that foreshadow destructive outcomes.
Next, I move on to a discussion of the specific research methods and influences
of each story, drawing on literary works and personal reasons for exploring my topics. I
also mention how previous study has fueled my work on the themes in these stories.
The stories themselves are products of my purpose and research.
My conclusion relates how these stories reflect my theme and purpose and how
they shaped my growth as a writer.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:tamu.edu/oai:repository.tamu.edu:1969.1/ETD-TAMU-2009-05-672 |
| Date | 2009 May 1900 |
| Creators | Elliott, Elise M. |
| Contributors | Heinemann, Larry C., Christensen, Paul N. |
| Source Sets | Texas A and M University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Book, Thesis, Electronic Thesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
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