Spanish and Portuguese Language and Literature Commons^™

The Fantastic Debate: Religion, Ideology, And National Identity In The Short Fiction Of Nineteenth-Century Spain, Morgan Keith Stewart

Theses and Dissertations--Hispanic Studies

This dissertation analyzes fantastic short fiction in terms of its relationship to the traditionalist and progressive forces that were vying for hegemonic control over Spanish national identity in the ever-changing period of the nineteenth century, demonstrating how these powers shaped Spain’s past and future national character to suit ideologically driven narratives and revealing how fantastic literature can disrupt these narratives to unlock new patterns of thought. In Chapter 1, entitled “Fantastic Short Fiction and National Identity,” I delineate the historical/political circumstances that led to the rise of Spain’s dominant ideological frameworks. I also establish my own definition of the fantastic …