De-demonising universality : transcultural dragons and the universal agent in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and David Eddings' The Belgariad

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dc.contributor.advisorRoux, Danielen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorSteenkamp, Jankaen_ZA
dc.contributor.otherUniversity of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of English.
dc.date.accessioned2009-11-23T14:05:03Zen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2010-06-01T09:05:56Z
dc.date.available2009-11-23T14:05:03Zen_ZA
dc.date.available2010-06-01T09:05:56Z
dc.date.issued2009-12en_ZA
dc.descriptionThesis (MA (English))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
dc.description.abstractENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation provides a reading of the fantasy novel series Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling and The Belgariad by David Eddings. In particular this dissertation endeavours to recuperate a literary critical methodology rooted in Myth Criticism. Further, it seeks to demonstrate the continued relevance and necessity of this form of criticism in our postmodern era and to refute some of the commonplaces of postmodern critical theory, specifically the poststructuralist scepticism towards the idea of universal truth and individual agency. Using Jungian theory, myth critics ranging from Laurence Coupe to Joseph Campbell and incorporating various postmodern theorists, like the contemporary Marxist theorist Terry Eagleton, and fantasy critics like Brian Attebery and Ursula LeGuin, this dissertation aims to give a well-rounded analysis of the merits of looking at fantasy as a legitimate field of literary study. Moreover, this dissertation seeks to illustrate the fact that fantasy is capable of informing readers’ interaction with the ‘real’ world and that this genre allows for insight into identity formation in present day reality. The chief structure used to explore these claims is an analysis of the Hero’s Journey.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: This dissertation provides a reading of the fantasy novel series Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling and The Belgariad by David Eddings. In particular this dissertation endeavours to recuperate a literary critical methodology rooted in Myth Criticism. Further, it seeks to demonstrate the continued relevance and necessity of this form of criticism in our postmodern era and to refute some of the commonplaces of postmodern critical theory, specifically the poststructuralist scepticism towards the idea of universal truth and individual agency. Using Jungian theory, myth critics ranging from Laurence Coupe to Joseph Campbell and incorporating various postmodern theorists, like the contemporary Marxist theorist Terry Eagleton, and fantasy critics like Brian Attebery and Ursula LeGuin, this dissertation aims to give a well-rounded analysis of the merits of looking at fantasy as a legitimate field of literary study. Moreover, this dissertation seeks to illustrate the fact that fantasy is capable of informing readers’ interaction with the ‘real’ world and that this genre allows for insight into identity formation in present day reality. The chief structure used to explore these claims is an analysis of the Hero’s Journey.en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/3088
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherStellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
dc.rights.holderUniversity of Stellenbosch
dc.subjectUniversalityen_ZA
dc.subjectAgencyen_ZA
dc.subjectDissertations -- English literatureen
dc.subjectTheses -- English literatureen
dc.subject.lcshIdentity in literatureen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshFantasy in literatureen_ZA
dc.subject.nameRowling, J. K. -- Criticism and interpretationen_ZA
dc.subject.nameEddings, David. Belgariaden_ZA
dc.titleDe-demonising universality : transcultural dragons and the universal agent in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and David Eddings' The Belgariaden_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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