ENG Theses
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Item Prospero and the twelve-year gap(Wichita State University, 2024-12) Thompson, Regine Lucy; Connor, Francis X.This thesis will attempt to answer the question of why there is a twelve-year gap between the time Prospero, the protagonist in William Shakespeare’s play, The Tempest, is overthrown from his throne as the Duke of Milan and his revenge upon those who betrayed him. After being overthrown by his brother, Antonio, Prospero and his young daughter, Miranda, are placed in a boat and end up on a deserted island. Twelve years later, all those who were involved in Prospero’s overthrow end up on Prospero’s island, unharmed but unwitting pawns in Prospero’s plan. Prospero was also a powerful magician, and this thesis examines benefits and pitfalls of this twelve-year gap with regard to Prospero’s magical abilities, his relationship with Miranda, his relationship with Ariel and Caliban, Prospero’s two slaves, those who overthrew him, and others.Item Haunting the narrative : The transformative role of ghosts in Victorian literature(Wichita State University, 2024-12) Hutchins, Jill A; Lanning, KatieThe research conducted within this thesis was to find ways that ghostly characters were set apart from the other characters, but also not seen as metaphorical beings only in Victorian Literature. Scholarly discourse focuses on what the ghostly characters represent and finding meaning through their death. Lessons are learned with ghosts in literature, but they also are important catalysts that drive and enhance the plot. In highlighted two different kinds of ghosts, the warning ghosts and the ghosts with the house, this thesis proves that ghosts can serve to push the climax with swift action. In developing a specialized outline for character development that is modeled after one that is taught to writers, we see ghostly characters achieve a character arc. In pushing against the scholarly discourse that only views ghosts in literature as more of a symbolic nature, this thesis highlights the steps that a ghost goes through that gives them a character journey all of their own.Item Thomist esthetics as a basis for literary criticism(Wichita State University, 1963-09) Basgall, Richard J.This essay, then, is based on both my graduate studies in Joyce and my subsequent research in Aquinas. The first half of the paper deals primarily with St. Thomas' principles of beauty and cognition, with amplification and support from other philosophers, poets, and critics. The second half relates these principles of beauty to the work of the literary artist and the work of the literary critic. However, as I feel the transition is natural and smooth, I have not divided the essay into two separate parts but have tried to present it as an integrated whole.Item The Jewish consciousness and transmutation in the poetry of Karl Shapiro(Wichita State University, 1962-07) Brown, Wallace G.I shall state a case for the function of Shapiro's Jewish consciousness in the meaning of his poetry, and I shall close my discussion by explicating some specific poems of Shapiro's that reveal this evolution (or "transmutation.. ) from the physical level to the mental level.Item The noble savage in French and English literature(Wichita State University, 1961-05) Hengen, Elizabeth J.