English Language and Literature Commons^™

Ordinary Magic: D.W. Winnicott And The E. Nesbit Tradition In Children’S Literature, Sarah Pincus

English Honors Papers

In this thesis, I look closely at four particular children’s books as representative of a genre within children’s literature, one that I call “ordinary magic.” Whereas most children’s literature can be categorized either as realistic fiction or as fantasy, I examine a group of books that resists such classification. Drawing on the psychoanalyst D.W. Winnicott’s theory of transitional phenomena, I discuss the ways in which the novels within this genre navigate the boundaries between fantasy and realism, exploring related oppositions such as home and away, childhood and adulthood, reading and real life, and rebellion and compliance. I argue that a …

Flying In Place: Black Superheroes And Their Origin Stories, Kolton Harris

English Honors Papers

In recent years, the black superhero has received more attention from scholars. With this surge of interest, comes a wealth of uncharted territory. My paper examined the origin stories of black superheroes, some of which have not yet been critically analyzed. The basis for my analysis is the overwhelming repetition of an urban black narrative that serves as the template for black superhero origin stories. It has proven to be narratively restricting and highly dependent on stereotypes.

Throughout this paper, I offer close readings of black superheroes that are informed by criticism of black masculinity. While the superhero narrative is …