English Language and Literature Commons^™

Folk Medicine In Southern Appalachian Fiction., Catherine Benson Strain

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The region of Southern Appalachia, long known for its colorful storytellers, is also rich in folk medical lore and practice. In their Appalachian novels, Lucy Furman, Emma Bell Miles, Mildred Haun, Catherine Marshall, Harriette Arnow, Lee Smith, and Charles Frazier, feature folk medicine prominently in their narratives. The novels studied, set against the backdrop of the rise of official medicine, are divided into three major time periods that correspond to important chapters in the history of American medicine: the 1890s through the 1930s; the 1940s through the 1960s; and the 1970s through the present. The study of folk medicine, a …

Faulkner's Mothers: The Relationship Of Fact To Fiction In The Sound And The Fury And As I Lay Dying, Spring P. Zuidema

Theses & Honors Papers

The author explores the relationship between actual events and circumstances in Faulkner’s own life and the fiction hat he wrote in his novels. William Faulkner was able to write his best work because he expected nothing from it. He was previously rejected by publishers, but furthermore rejected by his own family and two love interests. His mother was the only constant in his life. However she lacked love and caring and was domineering. These feelings of inferiority in Faulkner reflect in the children he wrote about and the traits of his mother reflect in the mothers in his novels as …

Don't Put Your Shoes On The Bed: A Moral Analysis Of To Kill A Mockingbird., Mitziann Stiltner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Harper Lee wrote a remarkable novel which provides a great deal of moral insight for its readers; through a use of history, moral instruction, and character development, Lee establishes a foundation for how people in an often intolerant world should live peacefully together. Moreover, she reminds the reader that regardless of socioeconomic status or race everyone deserves to be treated with respect and kindness. In establishing this moral analysis one must consider the historical source of Tom Robinson’s trial, the Scottsboro Trial; the Finch children’s consistent and exemplified instruction from their widowed father, Atticus, their housekeeper, Calpurina, and other close …

Connecting To The Feminine And To The Inner Self In Sarah Orne Jewett's The Country Of The Pointed Firs., Misty D. Powers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In Dunnet Landing, Jewett creates a feminine world that is characterized by its depth and its moral and emotional significance. There is a foundation in the real world of human feeling, and while there is much grief and sorrow in this community, there are also possibilities for happiness. The connection to death and loss is what gives much in this feminine world meaning. Grief is only a part of the journey. Out of death and sorrow come strength and a restoration to wholeness. Mrs. Todd has learned this and she passes her knowledge down to the narrator. The narrator’s journey …

Floating Away Or Staying Put: Finding Meaning In The Poetry Of William Wordsworth And Robert Frost, Mary Mcmillan

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine and articulate in philosophical terms the inherent differences in the poetics of William Wordsworth and Robert Frost. This work differs from many other critical works that have considered the two poets’ similarities and differences in that it considers these concepts from a philosophical standpoint. The study looks at the specific philosophical backgrounds of the two poets and utilizes vocabulary and concepts from these to describe the poets’ different poetical movements in describing similar subjects.

John Locke’s concepts of modes and substance ideas are used to describe the other things that appear in …

Into The Machine, Scarlett Stewart

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the Caudill College of Humanities at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts by Scarlett Stewart on November 26, 2002.

Setting The Hook Of Realism: A Study Of The Early Career Of William Dean Howells, George C. Lanum Iii

Theses & Honors Papers

This thesis looks at the early writings of William Dean Howells and how they create and cement the ideas of realism both in himself and in his readers. It studies his transition from being a romantic writer to being a realistic writer, leading the way forward for other well-known realism writers.

Ishmael: The Dissolution Of A Romantic And The Emergence Of A Poet., Allison M. Pepper

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although Ishmael does not appear to be a main character in Moby Dick, his narration is integral to the text. Only through telling the story is Ishmael able to give himself a concrete identity, which is reflected not only through himself, but through the thoughts, speeches, and actions of the other characters, specifically Ahab and the shipmates. Ishmael represents the fragmented Romantic of nineteenth century American society. He is bound by a traditional patriarchal world where he must break away from the father to establish his own identity. He has lost his connection to nature, the primal source of his …

Waiting For Mary Jane: A Collection Of Modern Appalachian Short Stories In The Joycean Tradition., Lorie Ann Wright

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis consists of a collection of short stories stylistically reminiscent of the works of James Joyce yet with an Appalachian and feminist voice. Waiting for Mary Jane should appeal to readers interested in experimental styles as well as feminist and Appalachian literature. The protagonist of the collection is Mary Jane, a female from present day East Tennessee. The reader experiences her life from age three to thirty. The introduction to the collection explores the link between James Joyce, Appalachia, Feminist writing, and the short stories. Structurally and thematically the collection reflects the works of James Joyce by using the …

Why Mystery And Detective Fiction Was A Natural Outgrowth Of The Victorian Period, Sharon J. Kobritz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This Master Project presents evidence showing why mystery and detective fiction flourished during the Victorian period and argues that this enduring genre was a natural outgrowth of this time. The project presents material on the culture of the Victorian period and shows how the roles of men and women are defined. This project will argue that mystery and detective fiction flourished because of the changes in popular culture; that the sweeping changes in education, medicine, literature, religion and business solidified the popularity of this genre. Along with this genre of fiction came a new way of publishing and reading. One …

How Does It Mean? Literary Theory As Metacognitive Reading Strategy In The High School English Classroom, Lisa J. Schade

Dissertations

In the last two decades, serious scholarly attention has been paid both to theories of teaching reading and to theories of literary interpretation. These potentially related fields have been treated as separate, focused either on teaching reading in the elementary grades or on teaching interpretation to advanced college literature students. Until very recently the relevance of either reading theory or literary theory to middle school or high school pedagogy has remained unexamined. My research, as a reflective practitioner, addresses this important gap. I focus on the teaching of literary theory in the high school English classroom as a strategy to …

Creating A New Genre: Mary Rowlandson And Hher Narrative Of Indian Captivity., Rachel Bailey De Luise

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the aftermath of King Philip's War, Puritan Mary Rowlandson recorded her experiences as an Indian captive. In a vivid story that recollects the details of these events, Rowlandson attempts to impart a message to her community through the use of a variety of literary techniques. The genre of the Indian captivity narrative is a literary construct that she develops out of the following literary forms that existed at the time of her writing. These are the spiritual autobiography, a documentary method meant to archive spiritual and emotional growth through a record of daily activities; the conversion narrative, which made …

The Artist’S Loving Hand: The Travel Letters Of Emily Eden, Isabella Bird, And Mothercatherine Mcauley Written To Their Sisters In 19th Century Britain And Ireland, Holly Elizabeth Ratcliff

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to observe the qualities of and techniques enlisted by British and Irish women travel writers corresponding with their sisters who remained at home. Some of the most vivid and telling works regarding the travels of extraordinary women are contained in the letters that they wrote to their families. These letters often involved brief factual commentaries; detailed descriptions of friends, other family members, or strangers encountered on a journey; advice and encouragement for life continuing on as normal back at home; and pictures or paintings that could serve as postcards to capture visions of people …

Livy’S Early Women: Victims And Actors, Lauren Constance Anderson

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

The Detrimental Effects Of Organized Religion On Women In Lee Smith's Fiction., Jennifer Renee Collins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the detrimental effects of religion on characters in Smith's fiction, with special attention to three general areas of religious influence on women. It considers Smith's illumination of the social, psychological, and artistic harm that organized religion can inflict on the lives of women.

This study includes library research of religion and Lee Smith's fiction. The study also concludes that Smith's seemingly casual fiction raises unsettling questions about the negative effects that religion often has on individuals.

An Investigation Into The Current Status Of The Paradigm Shift In Technical Writing Textbook Pedagogy., Terre D.M. Byrd

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to determine whether a paradigm shift is occurring or has occurred in technical writing textbooks since 1994. This study will further the work of Jerold J. Jeansonne, who chronicled the paradigm shift in technical writing textbooks from 1900 to 1994. Using product and process orientation guidelines, this thesis will examine several technical writing textbooks produced after 1994. The findings will then be calculated to determine the present status of the paradigm shift.

The thesis will also propose that the technical writing paradigm shift mirrors the paradigm shift in academic writing textbooks. To make this …

White Knowledge And The Cauldron Of Story: The Use Of Allusion In Terry Pratchett's Discworld., William Thomas Abbott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the last twenty years, Terry Pratchett's Discworld series has become very popular. Pratchett's success hinges in part on his use of allusion, in what Tolkien called the "Cauldron of Story," and what Pratchett refers to as "white knowledge." This paper explores the Discworld novels and illustrates Pratchett's use and success of storytelling through a few key directions: folk tales, fantasy literature, movies, and rock music.

Pratchett has received limited critical review, mostly of a negative nature, while producing a strong literary series, one crafted with both obvious and subtle recognition of his genre's sources. While standing on the shoulders …

A Portrayal Of Gender And A Description Of Gender Roles In Selected American Modern And Postmodern Plays., Bonny Ball Copenhaver

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe how gender was portrayed and to determine how gender roles were depicted and defined in a selection of Modern and Postmodern American plays. This study was based on the symbolic interaction theory of gender that suggests that social roles are learned over time and are subject to constant reinforcement. The significance of this study was derived from the broad topic of gender because gender issues are relevant to a variety of fields and exploring the effects of gender in one field contributes to the understanding of gender in another field.

The plays …

The Differences Between Dorothy Wordsworth's Journals And William Wordsworth's Poetry: Applying The Principles Of "Preface", Susan Dean Elzey

Theses & Honors Papers

The difference between the accounts of Dorothy Wordsworth and William Wordsworth of the events they experience together is studied. At times it almost seems like William contradicts himself in his dictums. However, that assumption is not the case. He takes from Dorothy’s journals a memory, an idea, a description and uses it as the foundation of deeper and more personal poetic revelations that Dorothy ever did. Together, through their writings, the brother and sister illustrate the basic definition of what it is to be a poet. Dorothy was not a poet, William was.

Richardson, Property, And The Virtuous Female, Audrey Evelyn Tinkham

Masters Theses

This thesis explores the literary, legal, economic, and cultural mechanisms at work in the eighteenth century formulation of feminine gender ideology as it pertains to the negotiation of settlements for married women's separate property. Within a feminist-historicist critical framework, fictional narratives of the eighteenth-century reveal a tension between economically-motivated self-interest and an ideology of sentiment, a tension that is related to the modern reluctance to discuss prenuptial agreements. The marriage contract itself as interpreted by eighteenth-century social theorists allows and encourages the creation of gendered spheres of activity and distinctly gendered behavioral models. The eighteenth century's distinctive configuration of these …

Merry-Go-Round., Lydia Allois Carter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Merry-Go-Round is a realistic adolescent novella that looks at true problems young adults can face.

The protagonist, Amy, is ten-year-old girl who meets a boy, Ben, of the same age at the hotel where her mother works. Amy and Ben become fast friends. Amy's mother is involved in an abusive relationship and Ben's mother is dying of cancer. Through the relationship formed between the children, they learn how to survive by sharing their difficulties and working them out.

The realistic, troublesome situations faced by the main characters of Merry-Go-Round will help readers graduate smoothly on the next level of reading.

"In Death Thy Life Is Found": An Examination Of The Forgotten Poetry Of Margaret Fuller., Staci E. Lewis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite the recent scholarship that has been performed on Margaret Fuller, very little has focused on the varied body of poetry she composed during her brief life. By dividing her poetic works into three categories – those written to an early “lover,” those focusing on the theme of androgyny, and those written during her “mature period” of 1844 – one is better able to follow Fuller on the emotional and intellectual journey that served as the foundation for all of her writings. In addition, the study of Fuller’s poetry provides a clearer understanding of how this erudite woman transcended gender …

Completing The Circle: A Study Of The Archetypal Male And Female In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter., Kathy H. Hallenbeck

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the works of Nathaniel Hawthorne and the archetypal images therein. The Scarlet Letter is discussed extensively with references made to The Blithedale Romance. Characters in the following short stories are referred to: “Rappaccini’s Daughter,” “Young Goodman Brown” and “The Birthmark.” An overall analysis of feminine repression in both male and female characters is explored. Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Pearl are the subjects of lengthy discussion. Journeys, both inward and outward are explored in the characters. The context is nineteenth-century culture of which Hawthorne is a product. The characters in The Scarlet Letter search for a complete …

"Love Is Lak De Sea": Figurative Language In Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God., Kalina Saraiva De Lima

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The principal objective of this paper is to investigate the use of Hurston’s figurative language in the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. Metaphors, symbolism, and personification have always been present in the African American language. Hurston uses the richness of figurative language to depict the African American experience in the United States during the first half of the twentieth century. Figurative language is observed in various instances in the novel, such as when the author places special importance on the porch and the “lies” told there. Other significant examples of figurative language include the kiss and the bloom. Hurston …

Lee Smith's The Last Day The Dogbushes Bloomed And Family Linen: Children's Loss Of Innocence, Bree A. Poliey

Theses & Honors Papers

Author Lee Smith began writing years ago as a small child. She is now highly acclaimed and a distinguished author. Her works, including nine novels and many short stories, range in topics from Southern life and mountain customs to family feuds and profound relationships. Each of the topics offering resounding voices, unique perspectives, and spirited approaches to the world. The research explores Lee Smith’s the last day the dogbushes bloomed and family linen. Despite the difference in techniques and level of maturity evident in Smith’s novels, both her first novel and those later in her career explore many of the …

A History And Cultural Resource Site Recordation Of Ogden Center And The Home Of Truth Cooperative Settlement, Heather M. Weymouth

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The purpose of this project was to complete an intensive level cultural resource inventory of the historic property known as Ogden Center and the Home of Truth Cooperative Settlement (Home of Truth). The goal of an intensive level inventory is to identify, record, and determine the extent and significance of a particular historic property. In order to meet these criteria, the site and associated individual features must be thoroughly documented through description, mapping, and photography. In addition to working with the on the ground, physical characteristics of the site, documentary research must be conducted in order to provide a historic …

Escaping The Auction Block And Rejecting The Pedestal Of Virtue : Slave Narratives Redefine Womanhood In Nineteenth-Century America, Candice E. Renka

Honors Theses

The purpose of this paper is not, as Carby states, to "establish the existence of an American sisterhood between black and white women," an overly optimistic effort, of which Carby is rightfully wary. Rather, this understanding of womanhood as an ideology existing concordantly with slavery, reveals the limits of personhood as it was defined for women in antebellum America. Although the dominant paradigm of womanhood did not articulate White as a race, it was acutely aware of "whiteness ... as a racial categorization" in opposition to Blackness (Carby 18). Similarly, Black women were reconstructing womanhood, creating a model that empowered …

Locating Postmodern Epistemology, Organizational Structure And Postcolonial Workers In The Knowledge Rhizome, Viren Mascarenhas

Honors Theses

The three excerpts from Amitav Ghosh's novels find the main characters speculating about the relationship between organizational structures, epistemology and knowledge production. In the first excerpt, Arjun tells Dinu that he does not believe that the colonial bureaucracy known as the British Anny will continue to exist if the policy of separating Indian and British officers persists. Anticipating the problems created from Indians holding leadership positions, he doubts that the British Anny "can go on." Murugan explains how the counter-scientists operate in the second excerpt, noting that members were revising epistemology by distorting knowledge through mutation. They were not following …

Hemingway's Modern Woman: An Analysis Of Selected Novels, Bonnie Gay Robertson

Theses & Honors Papers

This thesis looks at the female characters of several of Ernest Hemingway’s novels and how they relate to a world changed by war. It analyzes their capacity to find identities for themselves and take on male characteristics and independence for themselves.

Reflections On Doris Lessing: Age, Enclosure, And The Female Experience, Heather M. Swan

Theses & Honors Papers

This thesis analyzes the life experiences of female protagonists in Doris Lessing stories. Often referencing the motif of the mirror in Lessing’s work, it discusses age, life circumstances, relationships, and more, and looks at how women are viewed and treated in these stories.