English Language and Literature Commons^™

Rewriting Boundaries: Identity, Freedom, And The Reinvention Of The Neo-Slave Narrative In Edward P. Jones's The Known World, Theresa Rooney

All Theses

In the 2003 Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Known World, Edward P. Jones employs many of the same devices and themes found in traditional slave narratives and neo-slave narratives. Jones presents a complex and ironic model of slavery in his novel, and he uses this unconventional representation of slavery to explore identity and freedom as social constructs, creating a dialogue with slave and neo-slave narrative texts. By placing the novel in a dialogue with slave narratives like, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Jones succeeds in grounding …

Peace-Weavers And The Soldiers Who Court Them: The Sexual Development Of Women In Shakespear's Plays, Sara Ben-David

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This paper moves beyond current psychoanalytic readings of the women in Shakespeare's plays as either Mother or Other to consider instead the extent to which their sexual development from girlhood into womanhood rehearses what Jacques Lacan describes as man's progression out of the Mirror Stage, through the acquisition of language and the recognition of sexual difference, and into a unified subjectivity. The author argues that Shakespeare's own understanding of sexual difference is predicated, in the case of femininity, upon the model of the feminine peace-weaver which he would have found in Greek mythology, particularly in Ovid's Heroides. It is with …

Academic Cultural Guides: Sponsors Of Academic Literacy Development, Luis Balmore Rivas

Department of English: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This dissertation explores Hispanic/Latino students’ perceptions about language association and identity, the institution, and white professors at a small Midwestern liberal arts college. Issues addressed include the origin of a stigmatized relationship between Euro-Americans and Hispanics in the U.S. and its spill into academia, negative perceptions that affect students’ performance and persistence in the university, discussing the culture of power of the institution with students as a form of sponsorship, and providing academic literacy sponsorship through an Academic Cultural Guide role. The dissertation concludes with examples of strategies I have used in the first-year writing classroom to establish transparency of …

The Reality Of Happily Ever After: Charlotte Bronte's Revision Of Fairy Tales In Jane Eyre, Sarah Rice

Theses & Honors Papers

This thesis analyzes Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre through the lens of fairy tale stories, investigating the parts of Jane’s story that seem to parallel stories such as “Bluebeard” and “Cinderella”. It argues for a revisionist view of fairy tales as created by Bronte and discusses how the usage of fairy tale elements helps to further the plot and sociocultural messages of Jane Eyre.

Rhyme Or Reason?: Successfully Translating The Poetry Of Paul Celan, Jeanna Goodrich

English Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

The Scientific Management Of Writing And The Residue Of Reform, Eric Turley

Department of English: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Working at the intersection of composition, writing assessment, and school reform, this dissertation draws on an archival study of Progressive Era educational journals and a year-long qualitative study in a small urban district to examine the ways standardize writing tests are implemented as tools in public school reform. In the first half of the dissertation, I argue that administratively-minded Progressive Era school reformers, in a response to a “writing problem” framed around teacher inefficiency, designed tools for teachers to measure writing “objectively” in their classrooms; however, these tools were quickly used against teachers by administrators interested in efficiently managing schools …

"There's Nothing Like Dancing, After All" Gender As Performance In Jane Austen's Dance Scenes, D. Nicole Swann

Theses & Honors Papers

This thesis examines the elaborate and intricate dance scenes in many of Jane Austen’s novels as representations of marriage and the performance of gender. Along with looking at the successful marriages in Austen’s novels which result from the social convention of English country dancing, this thesis also analyzes the failed relationships and broken hearts that result from Austenian dancing and discusses the role of gender in finding both a good dance partner and a good spouse.

Manacled Desires: William Blake's Struggle For Sexual Autonomy, Cheryl Adams Rychkov

Theses & Honors Papers

This thesis closely examines William Blake’s attitudes towards women and compares and contrasts the texts with what can be known of Blake’s life and world. It examines his interest in sexual freedom and where these interests might have emerged from. The author explores the possibility that he might be interested in sexual freedom for the benefit of both men and women.

Witches, Wives And Dragons: The Evolution Of The Women In Ursula K. Le Guin’S Earthsea—An Overview, Melanie A. Rawls

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

A survey of the evolution of women in Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea series, examining how the author reassessed her depiction of gender in the earlier books and deliberately changed her viewpoint in the later books.

Song As Mythic Conduit In The Fellowship Of The Ring, Cami Agan

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Explores the complex layering of history and legend that convey Tolkien’s themes across a wide array of genres within the legendarium, reinforcing the sense of depth of time Tolkien hoped to achieve even within The Hobbit.

Two Views Of Faërie In Smith Of Wootton Major: Nokes And His Cake, Smith And His Star, Josh B. Long

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

An analysis of Smith of Wootton Major, showing how the cake and the star symbolize two diametrically opposed sets of attitudes towards Faërie.

What The Spirit Knows: Charles Williams And Kenneth Burke, Grace L. Veach

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Explores parallels between the philosophy of Kenneth Burke and the poetry of Charles Williams.

Reviews, Emily E. Auger, Joe R. Christopher, Janet Brennan Croft, Jason Fisher, John D. Rateliff, David Bratman

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Tolkien and Shakespeare: Essays on Shared Themes and Language. Ed. Janet Brennan Croft. Reviewed by Emily E. Auger.

The Evolution of Tolkien's Mythology: A Study of the History of Middle-Earth. Elizabeth A. Whittingham. Reviewed by David Bratman.

Charles Williams: Alchemy and Integration. Gavin Ashenden. Reviewed by Joe R. Christopher.

The History of The Hobbit. Part One: Mr. Baggins; Part Two: Return to Bag-End. John D. Rateliff. Reviewed by Jason Fisher.

Past Watchful Dragons: Fantasy and Faith in the World of C. S. Lewis. Ed. Amy H. Sturgis. Reviewed by John D. Rateliff.

The Christian Parody In Sara Paretsky’S Ghost Country, Joe R. Christopher

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Paretsky is best known for her V.I. Warshawski detective novels; in this non-series book, Chicago is haunted by what may be an avatar of the Babylonian goddess Ishtar. Includes a listing of references to other fictional detective stories in the Warshawski series.

"That Most Unselfish Man": George Sayer, 1914-2005: Pupil, Biographer, And Friend Of Inklings, Mike Foster

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

An appreciation of Inkling George Sayer, author of Jack: C.S. Lewis and His Times, widely regarded as one of the best biographies of Lewis. Includes personal reminiscences of his friendship with Sayer, as well as of Sayer’s friendships with Tolkien and Lewis.

Selected Sayer Holdings At The Wade Center, Christopher W. Mitchell

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Bibliography of selected items by George Sayer held at the Wade Center library at Wheaton College, IL; not exhaustive.

Editorial, Janet Brennan Croft

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

No abstract provided.

Tolkien's Linguistic Application Of The Seventh Deadly Sin: Lust, Emma B. Hawkins

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

A look at how Tolkien developed the concept of the sin of lust in Middle-earth, giving it his own unique but linguistically-based interpretation as an intensifier of other sins, rather than using its more common, purely sexual, modern interpretation.

Putting Away Childish Things: Incidents Of Recovery In Tolkien And Haddon, Alana M. Vincent

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Applies the concept of Recovery from Tolkien’s “On Fairy-stories” to an unusual subject—Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, a novel about a young boy with Asperger’s Syndrome.

Nice, Good, Or Right: Faces Of The Wise Woman In Terry Pratchett’S "Witches" Novels, Janet Brennan Croft

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Examines the moral system that guides the use of magic by the witches of Discworld. Considers the definitions of Nice, Good, and Right under this system, and demonstrates how mature witches strive do what is Right.

"The Homecoming Of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son": J.R.R. Tolkien's Sequal To "The Battle Of Maldon", Marie Nelson

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Considers the application of speech act theory to Tolkien’s “The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm’s Son” and its source, “The Battle of Maldon,” and how different speech acts propel the action of each story.

Six Characters In Search Of Shakespeare: Neil Gaiman’S Sandman And Shakespearian Mythos, John Pendergast

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Looks at episodes from Neil Gaiman’s Sandman comics dealing with two of Shakespeare’s most fantastic plays, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tempest.

Letters, Ruth Berman

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

No abstract provided.

Junot Díaz Redefines Macho, Paul Jay

English: Faculty Publications and Other Works

An In These Times Interview with Junot Díaz centering on his novel, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.

From Print To Projection: An Analysis Of Shakespearian Film Adaptation, Samantha L. Mudd

Student Research Conference Select Presentations

A close relationship between literature and film is nothing new. For over 100 years, turning mental pictures into visual images has captivated filmmakers and viewers alike, allowing for further expression, interpretation, and sometimes understanding of the original text. Even the theatrical works of William Shakespeare have been adapted onto film, relocating the action from stage to screen and bringing his art to larger audiences than ever before. With the technology of film, the conventions of Elizabethan theatre are challenged as filmmakers choose to modify or relocate the action of the plot. But is this acceptable?

Stephen King’S The Dark Tower And The Postmodern Serial, Jessica Waller

English Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

The Three Sam Spades: The Shifting Model Of American Masculinity In The Three Films Of The Maltese Falcon, Philippa Gates

English and Film Studies Faculty Publications

Dashiell Hammett’s 1930 novel The Maltese Falcon—starring the quintessential hard-boiled private detective, Sam Spade—was adapted for the screen not once, but three times: The Maltese Falcon (also known as Dangerous Female) directed by Roy Del Ruth (US, 1931); Satan Met a Lady directed by William Dieterle (US, 1936); and The Maltese Falcon directed by John Huston (US, 1941).1 It is the last of these films, according to critics, that follows the novel most closely and is the version Hammett liked best, although he had no direct involvement with the production of any of the three films. And it is …

Torture Goes Pop! : Screening The Praxis Of Torture In Films & On Tv, Madelaine Hron

English and Film Studies Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Using Stanley Cavell, Michael Fischer

English Faculty Research

Stanley Cavell often speaks of inheriting and carrying on the work of Ludwig Wittgenstein, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and other writers. These writers help him move on in his own thinking, turning him around when he feels lost, provoking him when he gets discouraged or stuck. His indebtedness to J. L. Austin in the acknowledgements to Must We Mean What We Say? (1969) captures one way he benefits from all the writers who have influenced him: “To the late J. L. Austin I owe, beyond what I hope is plain in my work, whatever is owed the teacher …

Cedarville Then And Now, Julie (Stackhouse) Moore

Alumni Publications

No abstract provided.