Date of Award

Summer 2005

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

English

Program/Concentration

English

Committee Director

Manuela Mourao

Committee Member

Edward Jacobs

Committee Member

Jeffrey Richards

Call Number for Print

Special Collections; LD4331.E64 A455 2005

Abstract

Focusing on nineteenth century literature in England, this paper explores the relationship of fairy tales to the realist novel. Even though the novels of the time are best known for being grounded firmly in realism, the world of fairies, existing most prominently in nineteenth-century children's literature, crept into novels and stories written for adults. The novel Jane Eyre, frequently discussed regarding its treatment of nineteenth century social issues, contains gothic and romantic elements alongside the realist mode. These elements contribute to a "transformation" of the text into a fairy tale. The novel becomes a fairy tale not in structure alone, but in the very nature of the work. As a fairy tale for adults, Bronte's novel provides discourse on the same issues as the fairy tales written supposedly for children by Christina Rossetti, George MacDonald, and Mary de Morgan. This project explores these similarities in social purpose, and how they were subversive to the nineteenth-century domestic realist mode. The genre lines which separate realist fiction and fairy tales blur as the two strive for the same ends.

The areas explored include how Victorian fairy tales and the novel Jane Eyre both achieve the same ends in relationship to childhood, gender, and romantic relationships. The primary texts, written by both men and women, not only share elements of the fairy tale, but also engage in similar social discourse.

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In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

DOI

10.25777/y25p-sf32

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