1. Fantasy and Madness in Two Female Protagonists in Gothic Fiction : m. a. thesisLara Zorec, 2023, master's thesis Abstract: The thesis analyses the influence of fantasy and madness on two female protagonists in The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson and The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. It aims to explain in what ways the fantasizing of two female protagonists suggests the potential madness or mental health issues in the protagonists. The protagonists, Eleanor Vance, and the governess, experience seemingly inexplicable supernatural occurrences while trying to restart their lives in new surroundings. Both literary works of Gothic fiction focus on their narration and explanation of the events and their fantasizing about what could have been. To correctly interpret the results of the analysis and scientific terms, the first part of the thesis deals with the explanation of specific terminology related to the Gothic genre, madness in medical and literary terms in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and psychoanalytic criticism. The theoretical background is significant for the definition of the specific passages that help us understand the ambiguous literary works by Jackson and James. The thesis attempts to discover what mental illnesses could be tormenting the female protagonists and how defining their symptoms could help explain their behaviour and inexplicable occurrences.
Keywords: The Haunting of Hill House, The Turn of the Screw, Shirley Jackson, Henry James, fantasy, madness, mental illness, schizophrenia, Female Gothic
Published in DKUM: 14.03.2024; Views: 234; Downloads: 32
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2. Valuing Cheer and Song Above Hoarded GoldNik Zabukovšek, 2020, master's thesis Abstract: In this thesis, I compare two stories by J. R. R. Tolkien: The Hobbit and Farmer Giles of Ham. I first provide a short theoretical background – a biography of the author, a definition of the fantasy genre, short summaries of the two works and their respective publication histories. In doing so, I provide the context for the works being as they are.
In the second part, I undertake an analysis and comparison of certain important elements that are common to both works. Among these are the Protagonist, Dragon, the protagonist’s sword, the Sage and the setting. Further, I analyse some of the more salient motifs present in both works: an underestimated protagonist, cursed dragon-treasure, warrior culture and personal courage, and the concept of ofermod.
In the last chapter, I undertake an in-depth look into the humour present in Farmer Giles of Ham. The story originated as a children’s tale, yet eventually developed into a work containing many instances of sophisticated philological, as well as low-brow humour. Here I endeavour to highlight Tolkien’s keen wit, rarely expressed in his Middle-earth works.
Keywords: Tolkien, The Hobbit, Farmer Giles of Ham, fantasy
Published in DKUM: 07.10.2020; Views: 803; Downloads: 95
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3. Otherness in George R. R. Martin's Fantasy Novel A Game of ThronesAndraž Gradišnik, 2018, master's thesis Abstract: The thesis explores otherness in A Game of Thrones, a fantasy novel written by George R. R. Martin. The research is possible because of the cultural and social diversity incorporated into the novel. Furthermore, the attention is paid not only to male but also female characters. Martin portrays otherness through exotic cultures, illegitimate children, untypical female and male characters, disability, etc. In A Game of Thrones, the story unfolds from the point of view of several characters. Since the majority of these characters are members of one (or more) out-groups, it is possible to analyze outsiders' position in a fantasy world governed by the norms set by the dominant society.
The thesis begins with the theory of fantasy, focusing on the origins of the term and its use in literature. The authors that contributed to the fantasy genre are mentioned and their actions discussed. A connection is established between fantasy and history, followed by a short summary of the events in the Middle Ages. The literary term 'otherness' is introduced. Several types of otherness are listed and explained – national, ethnic and cultural otherness; gender; and disability. A short summary of the events in the novel is added. In the second part of the thesis, the otherness within the novel is analyzed. The emphasis is on how the out-groups and their members react to the norms set by the dominant society.
Keywords: fantasy, fantasy novel, otherness, history, A Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin
Published in DKUM: 25.09.2018; Views: 2052; Downloads: 279
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4. High-school Students' Use of Fantasy and Science Fiction Reading for EscapismJanja Papac, 2017, master's thesis Abstract: The thesis “High-school Students’ Use of Fantasy and Science Fiction Reading for Escapism” encompasses findings connected to adolescence and young adult literature. We present the emotional, cognitive and social characteristics of adolescence. We take a look at the influence that childhood traumas and defense mechanisms may have on adolescents. We also present findings connected to escapism and reading therapy. The genres from the title – fantasy and science fiction - are described, as well as their history. We also described fairytales and folktales. We took a closer look at the Harry Potter book series and the opinion some critics have about its influence on youth, as well as some well-known fairytales children can identify with. In the empirical part, we presented the results of a survey created to examine the reading habits and motivation of high-school students. We found that high-school students’ general satisfaction with life does not greatly influence their choice of reading materials.
Keywords: high-school students, adolescence, literature, fantasy, science fiction, fairytales, escapism, reading therapy
Published in DKUM: 13.10.2017; Views: 1694; Downloads: 199
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5. Archetypes in The Lord of the Rings, Narnia and Harry PotterTeo Pucko, 2016, master's thesis Abstract: The fantasy genre is popular among the readers of different ages, geographical and social background and new novels are being published on a daily basis. Motion films are continuously being published on the basis of fantasy novels, as are video games and new editions of older books.
The present paper discusses one of the possibilities, why the fantasy genre is ever present and some fantasy novels continue to impress new readers. The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter were chosen as representatives of the fantasy genre because of their popularity and critics reviews; they were also adapted to motion films. When analyzing these works and also other fantasy novels, one can notice similarities; sometimes they can be seen at the first glance, sometimes they occur on the deeper level of symbols and ideas. Broadening the scope of research leads to similarities with fairy-tales, mythologies and religious texts – texts that help many people survive their daily lives. Carl Gustav Jung argued that these texts are based on archetypes, innate concepts that are hidden in the human unconscious and have to be realized in order for the human psyche to function properly. He dedicated most of his time to five main archetypes that can be projected in various forms. Projections of the wise old man, the hero, the shadow, the anima, and the trickster can be found in myths and religious texts around the world, which was also discussed by Joseph Campbell. Jung and Campbell stress the importance of archetypes and argue that they can be realized through myths and religious texts.
The three novels include projections of all major archetypes. These projections have great similarities among themselves, among other projections in fantasy literature, and similarities to the most well-known projections of these archetypes in myths and religious texts. Jung emphasized that fairy-tales and myths offer a way of realizing the need for archetypes, however; these archetypes can also be met in fantasy novels. Thus the fantasy genre is also one of the ways how people can satisfy their need for archetypes and this can be one of the reasons why the fantasy genre is very popular.
Keywords: archetypes, fantasy novels, hero, wise old man, anima.
Published in DKUM: 26.08.2016; Views: 2002; Downloads: 203
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6. A CLASH OF WORDS: TRANSLATING AN ALTERNATIVE WORLD FICTIONAndrej Zupanič, 2014, undergraduate thesis Abstract: The aim of this thesis is to determine a comparative stylistic model that can be used in literary translation for analysing texts of a specific genre: alternative world fiction. The model consists of two parts, general stylistic analysis of prose fiction and specific stylistic analysis of alternative world fiction, which depend on the stylistic approaches suggested by Leech and Short, and Sandig and Sowinski, as well as Mandala’s study of language in science fiction and fantasy. This is put to empiric use on the basis of George R. R. Martin’s heroic fantasy A Clash of Kings, translated into Slovene by Branko Gradišnik. The thesis confronts the source text (original) with the target text (translation) from general as well as specific stylistic viewpoints. However, the emphasis of this stylistic analysis lies on the latter part that is text- and/or genre-specific. Within this part of the analysis, attention is directed toward geographic, character and other proper names, text- or genre-specific lexical and grammatical categories, use of archaic forms and language contact. These categories are considered from the translation viewpoint, thus revealing certain problems a translator faces while translating and/or adapting certain terms. The analysis merges literary linguistics with literary translation and confronts these with translator’s creative freedom, an artistic function every literary translator should posses. The thesis thus deals in its separate parts with word-formation, grammatical structures, the lexicon of British and American English, archaisms and fictive languages, and compares them with corresponding translations. These comparisons are then used to yield important stylistic revelations a translator should abide while translating alternative world fiction.
Keywords: alternative world fiction, Branko Gradišnik, Boštjan Gorenc, comparative analysis, fantasy, George R. R. Martin, literary translation, style, science fiction
Published in DKUM: 15.01.2015; Views: 1982; Downloads: 171
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