Department of English Language and Literature
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Item THE USE OF HISTORY AND FANTASY IN JEANETTE WINTERSON’S THE PASSION AND SEXING THE CHERRY(2011-04-26) USMAN, Gökçen; BATUM MENTEŞE, OyaThe purpose of this thesis is to analyze Jeanette Winterson’s The Passion and Sexing the Cherry in terms of the uses of history and fantasy which will lead to a discussion of historiographic metafiction and magic realism within the framework of postmodern literature. This study demonstrates that the writer uses these postmodern ways of writing as means of subverting traditional patriarchal value structures. In the introduction chapter, information concerning socio-cultural and historical background of postmodernism, postmodern literature which includes postmodern literary techniques of historiographic metafiction and magic realism, the concepts of sex, gender, and gender roles and the literary biography and works of Jeanette Winterson has been given in great detail. Throughout the analysis in the body chapter, the aim was to prove with evidences from the texts that through the characters in both novels, Winterson blurs the line between femininity and masculinity; thus, subverts traditional gender roles which are assigned by patriarchy. Furthermore, through the settings and characters which are both historical and fantastic and by using unusual elements, Winterson transgresses the boundaries of fact and fantasy and rejects traditions, laws, institutions, norms, beliefs, and traditional rules which are established by the patriarchal society. As a result, by providing alternative realities and histories, she gives voice to women who are the silenced group in the society; thus stands against patriarchal domination and oppression over women.Item THE CONCEPT OF THE UNCANNY IN BRITISH GOTHIC LITERATURE: HORACE WALPOLE’S THE CASTLE OF OTRANTO, CHARLES ROBERT MATURIN’S MELMOTH THE WANDERER(2011-05-26) PAÇCI, H. Tüzün; CANLI, GülsenThe main goal of this thesis is to examine how the Gothic novel has been developed and transformed in the 18th and 19th centuries and how the concept of the uncanny is used through a textual analysis of Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto(1764), as the origin of the genre, and Charles Robert Maturin’s Melmoth the Wanderer (1820), as a psychological Gothic; in the light of Sigmund Freud’s essay The Uncanny (1919) as well as showing the function of the Gothic novel as a means of psychsocial therapy. Concerning its own devices, such as its psychological, and complex aspects that surrounds the readers, Gothic novel is regarded as a paradoxical genre which is primarily established in the desire to entertain as well as to terrify its readers. In this respect, it can be perceived as oxymoronic; conjoining two extreme sensations ‘fear’ and ‘desire of being quivered with utmost delight’. At that point, the crucial thing for Gothic novelists is to set the reader’s imagination free, and to divert it towards the exotic, mysterious, and unknowable worlds. In The Castle of Otranto, by creating a phantasy world, Walpole both entertains his reader and at the same time makes him observe the problems of the society. In Melmoth the Wanderer, Maturin reflects human psychology by examining man’s nature and also criticizes the principles and institutions of society. Thus, throughout these works, Walpole and Maturin make the reader satisfy his desire for curiosity for delightful dread and at the same time enable him view his society as a means of psychosocial therapy. On the other hand, it is also conspicious that both works appeal to the mind of the reader in terms of feelings of fear, terror, horror, the uncanny and the sublime.Item THE CONCEPT OF HUMOUR IN GRAHAM GREENE’S A GUN FOR SALE AND TRAVELS WITH MY AUNT(2011-07-26) GÖKÇEK, Çiğdem; CANLI, GülsenHumour and laughter are the most natural expressions of human beings and inseparable elements of social interaction in life. Since social interplay between people has a multidimensional quality, humour and laughter find expression in various forms. Due to the dimensionality of experience, humour and laughter have been discussed within the frames of different perspectives and many theories of humour and laughter have been developed over time. Among these theories, superiority, relief and incongruity theories of humour are the major ones. Although humour as a whole denies explanation in terms of any single perspective, all these theories underline the most striking function of humour as a way of adaptation to life. In this thesis, Graham Greene’s concept of humour in his two novels A Gun for Sale and Travels with My Aunt is studied in the light of major humour theories which are examined within the framework of Susanne Langer’s theory The Comic Rhythm which is based on the adaptive power of humour. According to Langer’s theory, human beings, like every living thing in nature, are also motivated by the impulse of survival and they interact with each other. Due to this interaction, they are confronted with different circumstances and they gain new experiences. These experiences arouse some feelings such as confusion, anger, fear, or embarrassment and they lead to either mental, physical or emotional loss of balance. Since preservation of vital balance is the essential aim of life, the life energy motivate human beings to gain their balance back. Adaptation of human beings to the new circumstances and to their environment is realized in this process of losing and recovering of the balance through which the rhythm of life is formed. Humour and laughter which derive their power from the life force reflect the rhythm of life. Accordingly, Greene depicts the concept of humour as the rising up of this life energy and emphasizes the renewing power of this energy on the feelings and thoughts of human beings and their perception of the world. He reveals the concept of humour as an attempt of human beings to reconstruct their balance which is often shaken by their confrontation with the world.Item THE IRONY OF IDEALISM IN SHAKESPEARE’S PROBLEM COMEDIES(2012-03-25) GÜVEN, Samet; DOĞAN ADANUR, EvrimThe purpose of this thesis is to analyze some ideal concepts such as love, justice, war, law and honesty by taking the term “irony” into consideration in Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida, All’s Well That Ends Well and Measure for Measure. Based upon these analyses, it has been asserted that Shakespeare criticized the values that his society has ironically through these plays. Based upon the views of critics, some information about “problem plays” has been given in the introduction part. In Troilus and Cressida, it has been explained how the themes of war and love are juxtaposed. All’s Well That Ends Well is the second play of the thesis and it has been asserted that themes of love and honesty have been reflected ironically. The last play to be dealt with is Measure for Measure. In this play, it has been emphasized that there may occur disorders in the society if the laws are not applied properly. As a consequence, Shakespeare’s manipulations of the related values and his way of employing “idealism” ironically in the plays lies in the basis of this study.Item THE USE OF BAKHTINIAN CARNIVALESQUE IN ANGELA CARTER’S NIGHTS AT THE CIRCUS AND WISE CHILDREN(2012-07-25) İNAL, Merih; BATUM MENTEŞE, OyaThe purpose of this thesis is to analyze Angela Carter’s Nights at the Circus and Wise Children in terms of Mikhail Bakhtin’s concept of the carnivalesque. This study demonstrates that the writer mentioned above uses the carnivalesque as means of subverting traditional patriarchal value structures. In the introduction chapter, information concerning the literary biography and works of Angela Carter is given. The techniques Carter used such as fantasy, parody and magic realism are analyzed after a brief explanation of post-modernism. Furthermore, in this chapter Mikhail Bakhtin’s literary biography and its effects on the developments of his theories will be investigated. The theories of heteroglossia, dialogism and chronotope will be explained and this will be followed by a detailed discussion on the concept of the carnivalesque and its two key notions grotesque realism and carnival laughter. In the body chapters, the novels mentioned above will be analyzed in terms of grotesque realism and carnival laughter aiming to show that Carter subverts and deconstructs patriarchal culture in order to construct a new order in which women will become liberated. In the conclusion chapter, it is argued that the new world order which Carter constructed in the novels will last only temporarily—just like carnivals—after which patriarchy will be the dominant ideology again .Item THE DRAMATIC ASPECTS OF THE SUPERNATURAL IN WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S JULIUS CAESAR, HAMLET AND MACBETH(2013-09-14) TİRYAKİ, Zeynep; DOĞAN ADANUR, EvrimThis thesis is an attempt to explore the dramatic aspects of the Supernatural in William Shakespeare’s tragedies of Julius Caesar, Hamlet and Macbeth. It is determined that the Supernatural elements dramatically play an important role to depict the fictional and structural functions of the plays, and it is observed that the Supernatural contributes to characterization and plot development. This thesis consists of an introduction, three main chapters and a conclusion. In the introduction, under the headings of ‘Classic’ and ‘Shakespearean’ the definition and the feature of tragedy is analyzed and its usages and the functions are examined through a histrionic journey from antiquity to the Renaissance. In this thesis, the first main chapter argued that the Supernatural considerably assist characterization in Julius Caesar. The second main chapter explored Hamlet structurally, and expressed the Supernatural’s effect on stressing the theme. The final chapter also discussed the contribution of the Supernatural in relation to the dramatization of the hero and the plot development. In the conclusion part, based upon the parallelism between plays, it is determined that the Supernatural is handled in the same structural level and serves principally to heighten the dramatic effect.Item THE EFFECTS OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AS REFLECTED IN CHARLOTTE BRONTË’S SHIRLEY, CHARLES DICKENS’ HARD TIMES AND ELIZABETH GASKELL’S NORTH AND SOUTH(2014-09-07) BALKAYA, Mehmet Akif; GÜLTEKİN, LerzanThe purpose of this thesis is to analyse education, poverty, conditions in factories, child labour, the position of women, marriage and social unrest in the age of industrialization in England as reflected in Charlotte Brontë’s Shirley (1849), Charles Dickens’ Hard Times (1854) and Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South (1855). Industrial Revolution is the transitional period between 1760 and 1840, a transition from handmade production to new manufacturing processes. Industrialization mainly started with cloth and cotton manufactory in many countries, particularly in England. The invention of the steam engine by James Watt gave way to mechanization and railways. Most part of the labour force was constituted by women and children who were working under hard conditions with little wages. The factory owners desired to be more and more rich by exploiting the women and children. Long hours of working were paid with minimum wages. It was the time when the country stopped making items on small scale, and started mass production, which would prove to be cheaper in the long run due to mechanization. The invention of new machines and the establishment of new factories paved the way for the industrialization era. In these novels, Charlotte Brontë, Elizabeth Gaskell and Charles Dickens criticized how the factory workers were exploited, how women were repressed by the patriarchal system and the condition of England during the age of industrialization. This thesis consists of an introduction, three main chapters and a conclusion. In the introductory chapter the social and historical context of “The Industrial Revolution” has been explored. In Chapter I, Charlotte Brontë’s Shirley (1849), based on the “Luddite Riots of 1811- 15”, the causes and effects of the riots of the workers and the situation of the mill owner together with the themes of social unrest because of mechanization in factories, and the woman question in that age has been analysed. Also it is examined that the novel focuses not only on the industrial unrest but also on marriage concept in the Victorian Era. In Chapter II, Charles Dickens’ Hard Times (1854) is analysed, and it has been asserted that the disorder of the society is caused with the fact that people in factory towns are regarded as the products of the industrial age and automatons of that time and education; and the bleak factories even led the children to be educated as if the machines were programmed. In Chapter III, Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South (1855) is analysed, and it has been emphasized that the contrast between the north and south (of England) was reflected together with the themes of love, education and class struggles and strikes causing violence. In the Conclusion, it is deduced that in these novels, the industrial revolution and its social aftermath make the society turn upside down. The fear of violence, as reflected in these novels and as witnessed in the history of England in the Luddite Riots (1811-15), Preston Lock-outs (1853-4), and the Chartist Movement (1839-1850s) put the novelists into indecisive, and conflicting feelings towards the rioting workers as reflected through the characters Moses, Barraclough, Slackbridge, Higgins and others. When analysing the works of these Victorian novelists, it can be said that Dickens is more pessimistic than Gaskell and Brontë with the portrayal of the outcomes of industrialization. Because of the tragic end of the Gradgrinds, and the death of the manufacturer without having chance to reconcile with the workers, the novel portrays a pessimistic end for the ruling class characters. Although the tragic end of the ruling-class-characters in Hard Times portrays a gloomy atmosphere, there still seems to be hope for reconciliation.Item THE PROCESS OF IDENTITY FORMATION IN EXPATRIATES: BUCHI EMECHETA’S KEHINDE, ZADIE SMITH’S WHITE TEETH AND YASMIN CROWTHER’S THE SAFFRON KITCHEN(2014-11-06) SAFAEİ, Ladan Amir; CANLI, GülsenThis study aims to investigate the process of identity formation in expatriates. It is an attempt to prove that the process of identity building in immigrants is a dual process which is formed epigenetically and in accordance with the strategies of acculturation. In this dissertation, it is argued that individuals form their personal and social identities through Erik Erikson’s theory of Epigenesis of Identity in Life Cycle (1963, 1968) either in their homelands or under the influence of their parental ethnic culture. However, in a totally new setting in the host country, due to the cultural and social crises that they encounter, the social side of their identity undergoes various changes. These diversions in the process of social identity development of expatriates is examined in line with John W. Berry’s (1997, 2005) acculturative stress as well as Paul Pedersen’s (1995) reformulation of Adler’s concept of culture shock. Thus, immigrants’ identity keeps its flux nature in all aspects of their life cycle as an outcome of which they are likely to shape their personal as well as social identities. This study is composed of five chapters. In the first chapter, the focus is on the conceptions and theories that play crucial roles in the process of identity development of migrants. The following three chapters are an illustration of the validity of the theories and principles in the fictional characters in three novels chosen: chronologically Buchi Emecheta’s Kehinde, Zadie Smith’s White Teeth, and Yasmin Crowther’s The Saffron Kitchen. The last chapter concludes how immigrants go through a psychosocial process of identity development and in what ways they develop their personal and social identities.Item A CULTURAL MATERIALIST READING OF TOM STOPPARD’S POLITICAL DRAMA: PROFESSIONAL FOUL, CAHOOT’S MACBETH, ROCK’N’ROLL(2015-01-31) GÜLPINAR, Gülay; CANLI, GülsenThis study puts forward that Czech born British playwright Tom Stoppard wrote his three political plays titled Professional Foul, Cahoot’s Macbeth and Rock’n’Roll sharing most of the cultural materialist sensitivities. Besides this main discussion, it analyzes the plays in question from a cultural materialist perspective. Mainly Alan Sinfield’s ideas are employed to explain the mentioned theory. When it is taken into account that Stoppard displays the history of Czechoslovakia through censored cultural practices like theatre, music and academic works, the theory cultural materialism which suggests that all the cultural practices are political has been found appropriate for the study of the plays. In Rock’n’Roll, rock music, which has always been regarded as the voice of dissidence both in the capitalist and the communist systems, becomes the symbol of dissidence because it is imported from Western cultures to Czechoslovakia, a country behind the iron curtain. In Cahoot’s Macbeth, when Shakespeare’s character Macbeth’s personal history in which he evolves from being an honourable lord into a tyrant is taken as a metaphor for the history of the socialist totalitarian system in Czechoslovakia, playing Macbeth becomes a strong criticism towards the dominant ideology and power. As for Professional Foul, when the central character Hollar’s dissertation, which has the power of introducing “truths” to society through scientific evidences, is censored, Hollar struggles to publish his text outside Czechoslovakia and as a matter of fact, his struggle becomes an act of dissidence as he rejects the impositions of the system. This study suggests that Stoppard wrote the plays in question with a cultural materialist approach because he displays the power-struggle between the totalitarian system and the dissident individuals through cultural practices. Cultural materialism which is among the new historicist theories analyzes the works of the past and emphasizes their importance in the circulation of the ideology and discourses of the contemporary world. Another point of emphasis for the cultural materialists is the notion of dissidence. Upon this basis, Stoppard’s criticism towards the Czechoslovakian government of 1970s through a Shakespearean text written in the seventeenth century has been suggested as one of the evidences for Stoppard’s cultural materialist approach and his dissident attitude towards the dominant ideology. Another evidence for Stoppard’s mentioned attitude and approach is his criticism of capitalism through a totalitarian system that collapsed long ago in Rock’n’Roll. In Professional Foul, the fact that dissidents can change the system through subverting the official discourses and forming reverse discourses indicates Stoppard’s optimism. This optimism is also a common denominator between Stoppard’s playwriting and cultural materialism.Item THE EFFECTS OF TOTALITARIANISM AS REFLECTED IN WILLIAM GOLDING’S LORD OF THE FLIES, GEORGE ORWELL’S ANIMAL FARM AND NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR(2015-06-25) ÖZÇELİK, Kaya; ARAS, GökçenThe purpose of this thesis is to analyse the development of totalitarianism and its detrimental effects like dehumanisation and social unrest that shatter the unity of society in three basic forms as reflected in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies (1953), George Orwell’s Animal Farm (1945) and Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949). Totalitarianism, together with “Fascism”, in the twentieth century can be confined to the period between 1922 and 1975. It starts with Mussolini; is followed by Hitler and Stalin, then ends with the death of Franco. Of these dictators, while Mussolini, Hitler and Franco are regarded as both fascist and totalitarian leaders, Stalin is accepted as just a totalitarian leader. “Totalitarianism” is described as a form of government that exerts absolute and centralised control over the all aspects of its citizens through the abuse of power and ideals; manipulation and indoctrination; fear and terror to bring about nothing but destruction, or loss of ideals. It was during this period that individuals were dehumanised to great extent by being deprived of freedom of speech and thought in every aspect, and the concept of a state “a state for its citizens” was changed as “citizens for the state” to impose restrictions or bans for their interests. It was during the rule of totalitarians that all ideals promising peace were abused to claim the rule, terror and fear factors were resorted to secure a totalitarian at the expense of millions of deaths. In these novels, William Golding and George Orwell criticise how totalitarianism was established, and maintained by fear, manipulation and terror in the twentieth century. This thesis consists of an introduction, five main chapters and a conclusion. In the introduction part, the scope of “Totalitarianism” in Twentieth Century English novel has been examined in the light of the views of critics.Item THE REPRESENTATION OF FEMINIST DYSTOPIA IN THE HANDMAID’S TALE BY MARGARET ATWOOD AND SWASTIKA NIGHT BY KATHARINE BURDEKIN(2015-06-26) YURDAKUL, Selin; TEKİN, KuğuThe aim of this thesis is to explore the construction and reflection of female identity in the feminist dystopias entitled The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood and Swastika Night by Katharine Burdekin. Through these novels, which constitute the subject of the thesis, it has been asserted that woman's identity is pushed aside and even erased in the patriarchal social structure of theocratic states. In the theory chapter, the concepts of utopia and dystopia have been defined through the views of critiques. In addition, related studies of two feminist critiques, Luce Irigaray and Helene Cixous, have been studied in order to shed light on the novel analyses in the following analytical chapters. As for the analytical chapters, the social order and women's position have been analysed in The Handmaid’s Tale and Swastika Night. In conclusion, in the dystopias, written by Burdekin and Atwood, it is has been proved that women are not assessed as individuals; they are rather considered to be objects used for reproduction.Item CHILD LABOUR IN DICKENS’S OLIVER TWIST AND DAVID COPPERFIELD(2015-07-18) ABDULLAH SHARAF, Salim Younus; GÜLTEKİN, LerzanThe purpose of this thesis is to analyse child labour, the sufferings of children and the social and economic changes in the Age of Industrialization as reflected in Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist(1837-1839) and David Copperfield (1850). The Industrial Revolution refers to the transition from handcraft and agrarian ways of life into industrialized society that is based on industry and machine manufacture that covered the period between 1760 and 1840. Industrialization began mainly with cotton manufacturing and clothes in many countries, particularly in England. It led to the large migration of people from the countryside to cities living in slums and crowded areas. Women and children were highly laboured in this period working in hard conditions with little wages. The factory owners tried their best to keep their superior position that led to social hierarchy. In these novels, Charles Dickens criticized how the poor children were laboured, abused, exploited, deprived of their education and how the capitalist system, that is based on class differences, produced villains who used every means to maintain their social ladder. This thesis consists of an introduction, two main chapters and a conclusion. In the introduction, the social and historical context of the Industrial Revolution is explained. It deals with child labour and its historical background. It also focuses on the Victorian Era in terms of Victorian society and class division, child Labour and the Victorian Novel. In Chapter II, which deals with Oliver Twist (1837- 1839), it is asserted that children in the corrupt system were laboured, abused and exploited. It has become clear that the workhouses are among the reasons of children’s bad conditions. In Chapter III, Which deals with Dickens’ David Copperfield (1850), it isen emphasized that child labour, child abuse and child exploitation are the bad the consequences of the capitalist system. It has also been affirmed that there are big difference in living condition among the classes in capitalist societies where the rich used every opportunity to maintain their position. In conclusion, it is concluded that the Industrial Revolution had many bad consequences on the life of the poor, such as child labour and abuse, and the migration of poor to big cites living in slums and crowded areas. Dickens, in the two novels, draws the sufferings of poor children who were deprived of their parent’s affection and education working for long hours under bad conditions. He draws these issues with more optimism, compared with other novelists.Item NEDEN YAZI YAZAMIYORUZ !(Bilim ve Teknoloji, 2015-08-04) ERTON, İsmailİnsanoğlu eski çağlardan beri duygu ve düşüncelerini, yaşadıklarını yazmak ve gelecek nesillere aktarmak için türlü yöntemler geliştirmişlerdir. Kimileri taşlara ve tabletlere, kimileri duvarlara, resimlerle, sembollerle ve en nihayet alfabe ile kendilerini ifade edebilmişlerdir. Ancak bu evrim henüz dünyada, bilhassa gelişmekte olan ülkelerin bireyleri tarafından tamamlanabilmiş değildir. Ülkemizdeki durum da farklı değildir. Türkiye’de insanlar cep telefonlarının iş ve sosyal hayatta son 20 yıldır aktif olarak kullanılması ile birlikte çok konuşan ama az dinleyen, az okuyan ve yazan bir toplum haline gelmiştir. Her ne kadar okullarda, üniversitelerde kompozisyon, araştırma teknikleri gibi dersler verilse de, en iyi üniversiteden mezun olan bir birey bile basit bir dilekçeyi yazamayabilmektedir! Peki, o zaman burada sorun sadece o bireyin bu eğitimi almaması mıdır? Tabi ki hayır! Ülkemizde eğitim ve başarı bir öğrencinin temel bilimlerden yani, matematik, fizik, kimya ve biyoloji gibi derslerden aldığı başarı ile ölçülmektedir. Temel bilimler hiç şüphe yok ki uygulamalı bilimlerin altyapısını oluşturur, bilgi ve bilimin üretiminde de temel taştır. Ancak, bir bireyi ‘insan’ yapan değerler sadece temel bilimleri çok iyi kavramakla bitmiyor. Bir bireyin üretebilmesi için birtakım becerilerini de geliştirebilmesi ve bunu duygu ve düşüncelerini çok daha iyi ifade edebileceği platformlara aktarabilmesi gerekmektedir. Bunun belki de en iyi yolu ‘yazmaktır’. Francis Bacon’un da dediği gibi, “Okumak bir insanı doldurur, konuşmak onu hazırlar, yazmak ise olgunlaştırır”. Bir bireyin yazabilmesi için aslında bir insanı insan yapan ve onu olgunlaştıran üç beceriyi yorulmaksızın ve yılmaksızın geliştirebilmesi için çaba sarfetmesi gerekmektedir.Item THE BAKHTINIAN CARNIVAL SPIRIT IN A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, AS YOU LIKE IT AND TWELFTH NIGHT: THE CHRONOTOPE, ROLE REVERSAL, LAUGHTER, PARODY AND GROTESQUE IMAGERY(2015-09-17) ŞEN, Nigar; DOĞAN ADANUR, EvrimWilliam Shakespeare’s comedies entitled A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1595-96), As You Like It (1599-1600) and Twelfth Night (1599-1600) reflect the carnival spirit in Mikhail Bakhtin’s theory, which proposes a temporary inversion of the existing world order and traditions. Based on the tradition of “folk humour,” Bakhtin’s notion of the carnival brings a new outlook on the world order. When the carnivalesque atmosphere in these plays is analysed with reference to “role reversal,” “chronotope,” “parody” and “grotesque imagery,” it is observed that, with the aim of laughter, the typical representatives of the usual world order are imitated, their roles are reversed and their bodies are depicted as grotesque. This forms a carnival world, which is against dogmas in the plays and reveals the relativity of truth. This carnivalesque atmosphere temporarily suspends the rules of the present hierarchical order and offers a different insight. Bakhtinian carnivalesque atmosphere created by role reversals, parody and grotesque imagery and the festivities in the background of the plays’ plots, propose a different perception of the world in opposition to the authoritative order represented alongside. It serves to subvert the existing rules and traditions but at the same time creates a constructive effect on authoritative power and principles in these plays.Item REPRESENTING HISTORY IN CONTEMPORARY BRITISH FICTION: A NEW HISTORICIST APPROACH TO KAZUO ISHIGURO’S WHEN WE WERE ORPHANS, GRAHAM SWIFT’S WATERLAND AND JULIAN BARNES’S FLAUBERT’S PARROT(2015-10-17) SERDAROĞLU, Duygu; BATUM MENTEŞE, OyaNew Historicism, flourishing in the 1980s as a “new” contemporary literary approach, proposes new viewpoints to the understanding of history and challenges the strict line between history writing and fiction writing, thus between historian and fiction writer with the claim that both genres are constructed textual representations. In other words, New Historicism argues that because of the subjective viewpoint of the historian and the political, cultural and social conditions in which the historian lives and which affect his narration, it becomes almost impossible for him to write objective “absolute” truths about the past. New Historicism deals with the representations of history rather than the history itself since it believes that there is not one history but multiple histories. The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the representations of history in three contemporary historical novels; Kazuo Ishiguro’s When We Were Orphans, Graham Swift’s Waterland and Julian Barnes’s Flaubert’s Parrot from the New Historicist viewpoint by focusing on the concepts of time, memory, documentation and narrative techniques. Being examples of the detective genre and parody of the detective fiction as well as biography writing, these three novels meet on the same ground with their problematic representations of history with their protagonists who are detectives, history teachers and biographers. Thus, this thesis aims at studying these novels from that perspective to reveal how history is narrated in subjective multiple ways and how personal histories and public histories are intermingled.Item THE PLACE OF WOMEN IN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS IN AGATHA CHRISTIE’S TAKEN AT THE FLOOD AND DEATH ON THE NILE IN THE LIGHT OF SIMONE DE BEAUVOIR’S THE SECOND SEX(2020-06-09) AKSU, Pelin Duygu; ARAS, GökşenThe aim of this thesis is to explore the position of women in their relationships with their male partners in Agatha Christie’s Taken at the Flood and Death on the Nile referring to the “One” and the “Other” concepts through Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex, and it specifically focuses on whether female characters in these two books are the “One” or the “Other” in their relationships, and the reason why they are dominated or not dominated by a man is discussed. In addition, female characters are compared with each other to find the differences between one another, which will help explain why one is subordinated while the other has an active role in her relationship. In addition, the differences the women characters have been analysed, and discussed referring to the Marxist Feminist perspective. Also, the history of feminism and crime fiction is added to analyse the novels regarding the changes and improvements in the genre, and feminist movement. In addition, the literary career of Christie provides how the genre was changing then since she was one of the pioneers who developed the genre during its golden age. It is thought that her autobiography may provide a guide to her literary style and her characterization of both women and men in her books. It is concluded that all the woman characters, except for one of them, Rosaleen Cloade, in the novels have an active role in their relationships. It is found that they are not only dominant, but also active participators in their partnership, and the reason why Rosaleen Cloade is doomed to be othered is the class she belongs to.Item REPRESENTATION OF HOMESICKNESS IN CARIBBEAN DIASPORA IN BRITISH FICTION: ANDREA LEVY’S FRUIT OF THE LEMON AND CARYL PHILLIPS’ THE FINAL PASSAGE(2020-07-09) YALÇIN, Nazlı Elif; TEKİN, KuğuThe purpose of this thesis is to analyse how the concept of homesickness has an impact on the members of Caribbean diaspora, especially on the protagonists in Andrea Levy’s Fruit of the Lemon (1999) and Caryl Phillips’ The Final Passage (1985). It is significant to trace the similarities and differences of their quests for “home” since the former is a Britain-born child of a Jamaican immigrant family and the latter is a Caribbean immigrant to Britain. After the years following the end of the Second World War, there was a massive immigration to Britain particularly as a result of the common belief of the abundance and wealth that it might offer. The Caribbean people who migrated to Britain encountered an altered reality and many of them faced a strain about resolving where their “home” is, which continued being a dilemma for their Britain-born children as well. Homesickness may be regarded as a consequence of the sum of many reasons. These might be grounded on one’s being unfamiliar to their past, their loose family ties, the troubles in personal relationships, and it might be even due to their educational backgrounds. Most significantly, the difference between being an immigrant in Britain and being a Britain-born second generation in a migrant family may be the causal factor in determining one’s “home.” However, both parties might face racism and discrimination, and therefore, both struggle for being a part of the majority. As long as people feel rootless and cannot identify themselves with a certain place, they may experience the emotional distress of it and eventually might face an identity crisis. The protagonists in Fruit of the Lemon and The Final Passage are both bothered by the sensations that homesickness causes on them and look for routes to overcome their unrest. This thesis consists of an introduction, four chapters and a conclusion. In the introduction part, the associations of “home” and the scope of the thesis are introduced with a summary of each part.Item REPRESENTATION OF MIGRANT EXPERIENCE IN SAM SELVON’S THE LONELY LONDONERS (1956), TAYEB SALIH’S SEASON OF MIGRATION TO THE NORTH (1966), AND HANIF KUREISHI’S THE BUDDHA OF SUBURBIA (1990)(2020-11-02) TAKVA, Serdar; ARAS, GökçenThis dissertation aims at reflecting how migrants are otherized, alienated and finally, forced to have fragmented identities, who are neither Western nor Eastern. The study discusses migrant experience in Sam Selvon’s, Tayeb Salih’s and Hanif Kureishi’s postcolonial novels in the light of postcolonial theory mainly, Fanonian perspective. European imperialism, as a systematic idea for exploiting other nations, emerged almost in the fifteenth century through colonial interests. European Powers, claiming that they would civilize the others, enslaved non-western communities, prospered accordingly, and dominated the worldwide economy. Among the imperial powers, Great Britain has been the most influential in the history of imperialism. The colonial activities of Britain began in the Elizabethan period, peaked in the nineteenth century and continued till the second part of the twentieth century. It has subjugated lots of nations from Caribbeans, Africa and Asia and played a prominent role in their economies, politics and cultures. As a result of losing its hegemonic idea in the aftermath of the Second World War, the communities from ex-colonies have started to immigrate to Britain, mainly to London to have better jobs and education because of the political and economic upheavals in their countries. Such migratory flows described as the “colonization in reverse” have changed the sociocultural structure of Britain and it has swiftly turned into a multiracial country. While migrants hope to be accepted by the motherland, western ideological perception of the other has not changed so the commonwealth has been exposed to othering policies after the mass emigration in the postcolonial epoch.Item A FOUCAULDIAN READING OF POWER POLITICS IN ANIMAL FARM AND LORD OF THE FLIES(2020-11-14) SALEH, Mohammed; TEKİN, Kuğu; ARAS, Gökçen; ALPAKIN MARTINEZ CARO, DürrinThis thesis explores the relations of power and politics as represented in George Orwell’s Animal Farm and in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies with reference to the philosophy of Michel Foucault. In both novels, power is an evident source of gaining political advantage over the others. Both Napoleon and Jack rely on “repressive power” to be superior. They either suppress or destroy all the entities in their distinct communities who resist against the hierarchical order. They create a totalitarian system that treats its subjects as puppets. Both Napoleon and Jack rule their communities through fear, and that fear is made up of death threats. On the other hand, Foucault describes another superior form of power, named “normalized power,” which suggests that in order to be assertive, one does not have to use power. This form of power puts certain groups under countless rules and laws and implants them into the group members’ minds as early as childhood. Individuals accept to obey these rules and laws willingly without judging or questioning them. Thus, a superior form of power is created. This power is governed by different systems that enforce these laws on those who are beneath it. The police, who directly enforce those laws, or teachers who indirectly enforce them by teaching these laws might be given as examples. Normalized power offers a more balanced system that ensures those who are subject to it will not revolt. The two novels that are selected to study in this thesis indicate that the systems that use repression alone are imbalanced and likely to end up in revolt. Both novels convey the reactions of those who are subject to the cruel treatment of power-holders. Indeed, both Orwell and Golding emphasize the fact that by using either normalized or repressive power, the system manages to keep the ruled ones under strict control.Item THE INFLUENCE OF THE WAR AND THE CHANGES IN LIFE AND SOCIETY AS REFLECTED IN VIRGINIA WOOLF’S MRS. DALLOWAY AND TO THE LIGHTHOUSE(2021-08-09) Al- Tameemi, Aaesha Nihad khaleel; ARAS, GökşenThe thesis focuses on Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway and To The Lighthouse. The thesis shows that in these novels Woolf presents a collectively suffering atmosphere, despite people's best efforts to preserve a positive attitude. In both of her novels, Woolf represents a post-World War I era, where survivors are struggling to return to normality and enhance quality of life. Woolf describes her struggles to adequately explain the self in her novels while also attempting to construct a symphony out of her tumultuous emotions.Woolf also presents the fictionalized pain by creating several characters in both of her novels. Mrs. Dalloway is one of Woolf’s novels, which focuses on war trauma and its devastating effects on the relatives, friends and loved ones of the unreturned. To The Lighthouse, which is often read as one of Woolf’s most autobiographical novels, represents the period of painful recovery from war trauma, and displays Woolf’s innovations in prose fiction.
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