What Cannot Be Returned Witnessing Forgotten Wrongs Against Native Americans Through Narrative And Historical Memory,
2026
Liberty University
What Cannot Be Returned Witnessing Forgotten Wrongs Against Native Americans Through Narrative And Historical Memory, Haley Marie Cranman
Masters Theses
What Cannot Be Returned is a hybrid creative nonfiction thesis that examines forgotten and often minimized injustices committed against Native American communities throughout American history. Through a combination of historical research, witness literature, and fictionalized narrative, this project explores events including the California genocide, the Long Walk of the Navajo, Osage oil exploitation, Indian boarding schools, forced sterilization, the Sand Creek Massacre, the Trail of Tears, and Wounded Knee. The thesis argues that while these losses—land, language, family, identity, autonomy, and life—cannot be undone, they must be remembered with honesty and care. Grounded in archival records, government documents, survivor accounts, …
Fanning The Flames: Incorporating Faith Into Fantasy,
2026
Liberty University
Fanning The Flames: Incorporating Faith Into Fantasy, Rachel E. Noonan
Masters Theses
This thesis examines the integration of Christian themes into fantasy literature through critical analysis and original creative work. The critical component traces the tradition of Christian fantasy from Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene to C. S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, arguing that faith achieves its greatest literary impact when woven organically into character and world-building rather than imposed upon the narrative. Contemporary novels by Shannon Dittemore and Chuck Black illustrate the dangers of didacticism and shallow characterization. The creative manuscript, Fanning the Flames, applies these principles through Kian Sai, a young conscript navigating an authoritarian military …
The Names We Carry,
2026
Liberty University
The Names We Carry, Christan Hickman
Masters Theses
The Names We Carry explores the weight of the labels and expectations we carry from others and sometimes from ourselves. It tells the story of moving from exhaustion, self-doubt, and trying to be everything for everyone to discovering rest, boundaries, and a sense of wholeness. The book looks at identities people have given us and asks whether these names show who we really are or who we had to become to survive. It is about learning to live fully, care for ourselves without guilt, and embrace authenticity in work, relationships, and faith. At its heart, The Names We Carry is …
Societal Sickness: An Exploration Of The Racially Biased Stereotypes Found Within American Historical Fiction Novels,
2026
Liberty University
Societal Sickness: An Exploration Of The Racially Biased Stereotypes Found Within American Historical Fiction Novels, Josephine Robbins
Masters Theses
This thesis explores the complicated nature of stereotypes in American historical fiction, particularly around black oppression and the Civil Rights Movement. The artist statement explores the personal and literary influences that led me to explore and further research this topic. The critical paper explores how historical fiction novels over the last few centuries have used black suffering as a vehicle to promote white moral development, causing a rise in the white savior character archetype. Finally, the creative manuscript, The White Washing, is a novel that develops African American characters morally and gives them a central role in their own story, …
Dialogue In Screenwriting: Developing The Character Through Conversation,
2026
Liberty University
Dialogue In Screenwriting: Developing The Character Through Conversation, Madalynn Ruth Shiderly
Masters Theses
The purpose of this document is to highlight the importance of dialogue in a screenplay, discuss specific examples of dialogue from well-known films, and analyze how words affect the characterization of a film’s protagonist. First, the document explains the importance of having strong characters in a story for it to be compelling enough for audiences to engage with it. Then, the question of whether character or plot is more important in a narrative is discussed. Finally, the document introduces the concept of dialogue in a screenplay, forming the argument that dialogue is just as important as plot structure. For this …
Trauma, Myth, And Sacred Memory: How Narrative Gives Form To Suffering, Theology, And Meaning,
2026
Liberty University
Trauma, Myth, And Sacred Memory: How Narrative Gives Form To Suffering, Theology, And Meaning, Jacob M. Tannehill
Masters Theses
This thesis explores the relationship between trauma, myth, and narrative meaning through academic and creative works. Drawing upon trauma theory, cultural memory studies, and mythopoeic fantasy, this thesis examines how communities remember catastrophes, preserve identity, and struggle to transform suffering into coherent narratives. The critical portion focuses on J. R. R. Tolkien’s account of Númenor’s destruction in The Silmarillion, reading the Downfall as a model of cultural trauma whose meaning persists through inheritance and contested narration. The creative portion, drawn from excerpts of The Adia, extends these concerns into a mythic world in which language, memory, and theological inheritance shape …
Rainy Day Books,
2026
Fort Hays State University
Rainy Day Books, Katy Harris
Lines from the Middle of Nowhere
Rowan finds himself wandering the streets on his brother's death anniversary. He stumbles upon a used book store that provides an escape from the memories bubbling up.
Contributor Bios,
2026
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Fire At The End Of The World,
2026
College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University
Combat Fatigue,
2026
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Language Barrier,
2026
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Winesburg,
2026
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
What Have I Done?,
2026
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Embodiment,
2026
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Flicker,
2026
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Eastern Windows,
2026
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
An Affair Of The Heart,
2026
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
A Fine Instrument,
2026
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Everything I Do Not Understand,
2026
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
Creation Myth / Extinction Myth,
2026
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University
