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De-demonising universality : transcultural dragons and the universal agent in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and David Eddings' The Belgariad
Thesis (MA (English))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
2009
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| _version_ | 1867613844911685632 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Steenkamp, Janka |
| author2 | Roux, Daniel |
| author_browse | Roux, Daniel Steenkamp, Janka |
| author_facet | Roux, Daniel Steenkamp, Janka |
| author_sort | Steenkamp, Janka |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | University of Stellenbosch |
| description | Thesis (MA (English))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/3088 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:42:35.472Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2009 |
| publishDateRange | 2009 |
| publishDateSort | 2009 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/3088 De-demonising universality : transcultural dragons and the universal agent in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and David Eddings' The Belgariad Steenkamp, Janka Roux, Daniel University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of English. Universality Agency Dissertations -- English literature Theses -- English literature Identity in literature Fantasy in literature Rowling, J. K. -- Criticism and interpretation Eddings, David. Belgariad Thesis (MA (English))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. ENGLISH 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. AFRIKAANSE 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. Masters 2009-11-23T14:05:03Z 2010-06-01T09:05:56Z 2009-11-23T14:05:03Z 2010-06-01T09:05:56Z 2009-12 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/3088 en University of Stellenbosch application/pdf Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| spellingShingle | Universality Agency Dissertations -- English literature Theses -- English literature Identity in literature Fantasy in literature Rowling, J. K. -- Criticism and interpretation Eddings, David. Belgariad Steenkamp, Janka De-demonising universality : transcultural dragons and the universal agent in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and David Eddings' The Belgariad |
| title | De-demonising universality : transcultural dragons and the universal agent in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and David Eddings' The Belgariad |
| title_full | De-demonising universality : transcultural dragons and the universal agent in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and David Eddings' The Belgariad |
| title_fullStr | De-demonising universality : transcultural dragons and the universal agent in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and David Eddings' The Belgariad |
| title_full_unstemmed | De-demonising universality : transcultural dragons and the universal agent in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and David Eddings' The Belgariad |
| title_short | De-demonising universality : transcultural dragons and the universal agent in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and David Eddings' The Belgariad |
| title_sort | de demonising universality transcultural dragons and the universal agent in j k rowling s harry potter and david eddings the belgariad |
| topic | Universality Agency Dissertations -- English literature Theses -- English literature Identity in literature Fantasy in literature Rowling, J. K. -- Criticism and interpretation Eddings, David. Belgariad |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/3088 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT steenkampjanka dedemonisinguniversalitytransculturaldragonsandtheuniversalagentinjkrowlingsharrypotteranddavideddingsthebelgariad |