Family ties and generic transgression in Louise Erdrich's fiction

Napier, Kathryn Frances (1999) Family ties and generic transgression in Louise Erdrich's fiction. MPhil(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

Full text available as:
[thumbnail of scanned version of the original print thesis] PDF (scanned version of the original print thesis)
Download (4MB)
Printed Thesis Information: https://eleanor.lib.gla.ac.uk/record=b1798621

Abstract

The focus of my thesis is to consider the interaction between theme and form in Louise Erdrich's fiction, specifically Love Medicine, The Beet Queen, Tracks and The Bingo Palace. It occurred to me, after reading the tetralogy, that the maternal and paternal bonds were not subject to bloodlines; indeed, family ties in Erdrich's fiction, as is the case with Native American tribal family and clan structures, are much more fluid and inclusive. In conjunction with this, the structure of each of the novels seems to reflect the fluid nature of family structures represented. This led me to consider generic classifications particularly Erdrich's relationship with realist and magic realist trends; Alan Velie's article "Magical Realism and Ethnicity: The Fantastic In The Fiction Of Louise Erdrich", is particularly important to this discussion. Therefore, this thesis analyses representations of the family (the mother, father and children), representations of cultural identity (Chippewa and Western) and considers the novel form as the mediator of these representations.

Item Type: Thesis (MPhil(R))
Qualification Level: Masters
Additional Information: Adviser: Susan Castillo.
Keywords: American literature
Subjects: P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN0080 Criticism
P Language and Literature > PS American literature
Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > English Literature
Date of Award: 1999
Depositing User: Enlighten Team
Unique ID: glathesis:1999-71611
Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
Date Deposited: 17 May 2019 09:31
Last Modified: 20 Oct 2022 17:38
Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.71611
URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/71611

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year