Fairy Tales: A Selective Annotated Bibliography

[by William Leonard]

A child cries in the dark afraid of the monsters underneath his bed.  Then the child’s mother arrives, carrying with her a simple reading light, and a book entitled The Bedtime Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm tucked under her arm, sitting in the chair beside the bed.  She turns on the light, and thumbs through the yellowed pages as she consoles the child, finds the right page, and begins with a phrase older than the world, “Once upon a time…”

How many people have such memories?  True, the means may change, such as the child being a teenager picking up an interesting book at the local library, or a newly married couple watching the new show on the television, or any number of grandparents reading to a small child.  Fairy tales have been around longer than anyone can remember, and the idea of them has been for longer than recorded history- they just change form.  But recently, some people have begun to ask, “Where have these stories gone?”  The fact is they are still around though it may take some looking, and they are still a major influence, if a little more subtle than in prior years.

Unfortunately, there are too many potential means of portraying the influence of these tales to include in one short work.  Keeping this limitation in mind, the following is a fairly selective annotated bibliography including a wide variety of sources on how Fairy Tales continue to influence literature and the modern world, and their manifestations, particularly those either taken from or in some way influenced by the Brothers Grimm.

Works included refer to several varieties of application- scholastic sources best suited for proper application in any school paper, the informal means intended more as springboards for finding casual sources and connecting with the reading audience, and others providing evidence for multiple points of view in regards to the history and methods of influence to allow greatest versatility in any work based off these sources.  These sources range from academic journals, such as Notes on Contemporary Literature, to common websites including Fanfiction.com, to individual books beginning with The Annotated Brothers Grimm.  They are of use to any to describe the influences of fairy tales in many fields, or as a brief discussion in other fields, such as a paper on child psychology (seeing as children are the primary audience of Fairy Tales throughout history).  As such, these sources are best applied by a student for a paper focusing on the influences of Fairy Tales in the modern world, though others can benefit; such people would include those involved in the field of literature studies as a teachers or potential authors seeking inspiration in the form of Fairy Tales.

Tatar, Maria.  The Annotated Brothers Grimm.  New York: W.W. Norton and Company,Inc, 2004.  Print

The Annotated Brothers Grimm is actually a rare example of a complete and relavent title-this work is a collection of the Fairy Tales collected by the Brothers Grimm,kept in their (at least mostly) original form instead of attempting to modernize them.  For instance, in the story of Little Red Riding Hood, the girl is naïve and is eaten by the wolf, then released when the huntsman takes scissors and slices the wolf’s belly open, filling it with stones.  Each of the stories has a number of annotations, numbered according to the quality of the tale, which details differences in portrayals, and potential meanings behind these variations.  An excellent start to the study of Fairy Tales, as they are the rough origionals.

Klima, John.  Happily Ever After.  New York City: Night Shade Books, 2011.  Print.

Happily Ever After is a collection of retold Fairy Tales, including story form (such as My Life as  Bird by Charles de Lint, He Dies that Day, In Thirty Years by Will McCarthy, and The Rose Garden by Michelle West), and a dramatic script (in Gregory Maguire’s “The Seven Stage Comeback,” a 1 Act play with 6 Scenes).  Included before each story is a brief annotation about the authors in question, which grants minor details about prior works (such as Gregory Maguire’s work on the book Wicked, now a Broadway Musical, which details the life and times of Elphaba, better known as the Wicked Witch of the West).  A good read for fun, and an excellent record of modernized Fairy Tales.

Nayar, Pramod K.  “The Sense of Horror; Angela Carter’s ‘The Bloody Chamber’”.  Notes on Contemporary Literature 38.1 (2008): 4.  Students Resources in Context.  Web.

This is an article written by a professor employed at the University of Byderabad in India focusing on The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter.  This is an excellent example of academic essays written on the subject, as well as the simple scope of distance that the structure of Fairy Tales has spread, despite the “traditional stomping grounds” of Europe that claim this structure.  In these, he writes on the stimulation of horror, or fear, that is created, “not by appealing to the reader’s intellect by rather by stimulating bodily sensations in terms of colour, temperature, and haptic (sense of touch) conditions.”  It is an examination in detail of that horror, and of the exact effects upon the reader.  This is an excellent source when searching for the direct form of influence between reader and book in modern Fairy Tales.

Talor, Patricia R.  “Criminal Appropriations of Shakespeare in Jasper Fforde’s Something Rotten.”  College Literature 37.4 (fall 2010): pg 23.  Print.

This is a critical essay written on the subject of a book written by jasper Fforde entitled Something Rotten, which is a parody of Shakespeare’s work.  Fforde writes many parodies, with examples listed in the text (including The Eyre Affair in 2001, Lost in a Good Book in 2002, The Well of Lost Plots in 2003, Something Rotten in 2004, and First Among Sequels in 2007); these books employ many of Shakespeare’s characters in appropriation in ‘displays of destructive power; for example police incarcerate actors for poorly performing Twelfth Night…’  This essay argues that violent appropriations can be constructive rather than oppressive.  A reliable source more for the journal in which it appears, which is the triennially published College Literature Journal, though this essay can also serve in the act of examining differences of perspectives regarding venerable Shakespeare, and the comedic side of Fairy Tales in remembering one thing-many such tales were written as counterpoints to major or venerated subjects.

Hume, Kathryn.  “Voice in Kathy Acker’s Fiction” Contemporary Literature.  Volume 42 issue 3 (2001) pages 485-513.  Print.

This is an article describing the use of voice in the fiction of Kathy Acker, voice being defined as “a combination of verbal flavor, attitude, and subject matter designed to display the attitude and encourage it in readers.  Voice in this sense resembles the orchestration and preferred tonalities that let one identify a couple measures of Tchaikovsky from the Russian intervals…The voice in Acker’s fiction is similarly individual to her, and paying attention to it helps uncover her assumptions about character and understanding what she is reacting against.”  This article is meticulously detailed, and as such is a solid source for the identification of individual styles, an integral part of understanding Fairy Tales and fiction, which Kathy Acker writes.

Cashdan, Sheldon.  The Witch Must Die:  The Hidden Meaning of Fairy Tales.  New York City: BasicBooks, 2000.  Print.

This book was written by a professional psychologist, as an in-depth examination of the “classic” mentality of the most prominent audience of fairy tales- children.  As such, it has many parts that have reference to the psychology of children, and the application of these stories to those children.  It is worth noting, though, that Cashdan did commit one failure-the assumption that these tales were always meant for children, which did not happen until roughly the Victorian Age, several hundred years after their creation.  The originals were folk and morality tales enhanced by the upper class and collected by scholars for that upper class, and as such one must remember this pitfall.  That aside, it is a good look at the formulaic mindset behind their examination- apply story X to child Y for condition Z and the child is fixed, which has some merits, though it is not the be-all and end-all of the stories.

Tatar, Maria.  The Grimm Reader: The Classic Tales of the Brothers Grimm.  New York: W.W. Norton and Company,Inc, 2004.  Print

This is a book written by the chair of the Program in Folklore and Mythology at Harvard University, and as such is as close to a scholastic source as you will get to the ideals.  This book has in it annotations and a preface to provide readers with the historical and cultural context to understand what these stores meant and their contemporary resonance. The book includes some of the more famous stories in world literature, such as Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, Snow White and other stories less known, such as The Seven Ravens

Maguire,Gregory.  Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.  New York City: Harper Collins, 1995.  Print.

Wicked, written by Gregory Maguire, is a good example of another phenomenon regarding Fairy Tales.  Normally, Fairy Tales are read as short bedtime stories, ending in less than 10 pages, but since books have become popular and public libraries almost common in cities, the tales have been lengthened to become true novels.  Wicked focuses on the life of Elphaba, known to the world at large as the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz (which by itself is a wonderfully structured Fairy Tale), and in particular it is an examination of that society through the eyes of a cynic, providing the views of realism to such a story.  For example, in the begging of the book, when Elphaba is born, people react with revulsion and shock to her skin color, despite the relative oddity (to the reader in the real world) of having talking animals.  A good look at the effects of reality in Fairy Tales, and the lengthening of those stories.

Goldman, William.  The Princess Bride.  New York City: Bloomsbury, 1973.  Print.

The Princess Bride, originally written by William Goldman, is a prodigiously popular example of Fairy Tales influencing the modern world through alternate mediums, particularly film.  Fairy Tales were originally spread by word of mouth, then through script, finally through media in the modern day.  No one who has read this book can state it is not a Fairy Tale, and a wonderfully written one at that.  A wonderful example of modern media portrayal of Fairy Tales.

Authors: Global Population.  Fanfiction.com.  Facebook.  Web.  27 September 2013.

This is a website, though not scholastic, which demonstrates perfectly the idea of fairy tales of all sorts influencing the modern world.  Fanfiction is when fans of whatever subject (movies, books, etc) write on that subject with their own twists-some good, some bad, some just because.  In particular, these influences are in versatility, specifically the individual stories.  Themes and other aspects of note are part and parcel, and while the meanings can be changed by different authors, they tend to be at least similar.  Examples include Mythology at 3K entries, Greek Mythology at 2.8K entries, Kingdom Hearts (which has its own story roots in many fairy tales) at 70.2K entries, and Fairy Tales as a search entry at 7,628 entries.  Not recommended as a true scholastic source, but as an effective springboard for the mind.

Arthuriana: The Journal of Arthurian Studies

[by William Leonard]

There have been may works dedicated to an era of European history known as the Dark Ages and the Middle Ages.  It was in this time period that there arose a legend of a knight who pulled an enchanted sword from a stone, and quested across the land of Britain to restore law, order, and peace, and sought the Holy Grail, the cup which was used at the Last Supper and caught the blood of Christ at the Crucifixion.  This legend has grown over time to include the journeys of many knights who joined the first, who was hailed as king by Divine Providence.  The common world would know these as the legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

While the tales are fantastical, they ring with truth-but how much truth?  This is the line of thought for the scholarly journal, Arthuriana.  It strives to peel back the shrouds of mystery and unveil the actual facts behind the myths of King Arthur and his knights.  What are all the geographical locations of the settings and places mentioned in the tales?  What was Arthur’s genuine nationality of birth-English which would have been the Picts and Woads of the northern regions, or Roman at the time of the collapse of the Empire, the construction of Hadrian’s Wall, and the subsequent withdrawal of that Empire, or was he some other nationality?  Was Arthur even real, or was he a fictional character created by the needs of the people over the years-or was he truly a collection of works, prescribed to a single man whether fictional or genuine?

Without going into too much detail, one example of this would be the character of Merlin, the wizard with an owl named Archimedes (an obvious reference to the Greek who ran through the streets stark naked shouting Eureka to many a startled passerby when he discovered irrefutable scientific proof of the concept of pressure in the bathtub), and the effect of Merlin as an advisor.

In particular, refer to the article titled “Ruled by merlin: Mirrors for Princes, Counseling Patterns, and Malory’s ‘Tale of King Arthur.’”  This article, written by Louis J. Boyle, focuses on Malory’s emphasis on Merlin as an infallible advisor, and that his actions show the contradictory nature of counseling patterns for monarchs and nobles advocated the advice texts of the speculum pricipis tradition.  In layman terms, words, it shows that the way Merlin gives advice, while infallible for the sake of story, is in fact a paradox when compared to how a king should have gotten advice—from a council of advisors, which is how the Romans did things and subsequently wrote them down in some dusty tome in Latin consulted by rulers.

In specific detail, on page 53 of the article, it states that fifteenth-century readers were sometimes reading Malory’s text almost literally alongside advice texts (such as the speculum principis); it later states that by logical progression that contemporary audiences of Malory may have been assessing Arthur’s actions regarding counseling patterns in light of what the advice books actually said about how a king should handle counseling situations.  Thus, these audiences and those who subsequently read these works, can deduce the contradictions between the infallible Merlin, and the actual practicality of the laws of council as the Romans conceived.

In conclusion, there are many articles, and they all have focus in such field—specific, detailed manners of scholastic examination of the Arthur Legend.  It is advised to read these if in fact one should wish to understand the legend better.

Origins and Alterations in Arthurian Folklore

From the Round Table to tales of conquest and discovery, stories of King Arthur and his knights have captivated audiences for generations.  Sir Percival had his hunt for the Holy Grail in Chrétien de Troyes’ Perceval, ou le Conte del Graal, and Sir Gawain had his journey to escape certain death in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, among many other legends and folklore. Stories of battle and glory, of uniting communities under the banner of Arthur, and of cutting down the enemies of the Britons with the fabled sword Excalibur have thoroughly permeated Western culture.

But where did it all come from?  How did King Arthur come to be?  From where did he amass his fabled knights?  More importantly, though:  how has this story changed as it’s been told from person to person?  There is not any particularly central tale regarding King Arthur and his knights.  Rather, authors add on to the tale with their own unique works, introducing new characters to the mythos and altering old characters in varying degrees.  As to what effect these authors have on the canon of Arthurian Folklore, there are plenty of opinions on the matter.

The following annotated bibliography contains a broad variety of sources attained from various journal articles and reviews regarding and focusing on the topic of Arthurian lore, ordered alphabetically.  More specifically, some of these sources note thematic changes that have occurred throughout the timeline of stories related to King Arthur and his knights.  For the purposes of study, this annotated bibliography would be useful to those students studying Arthurian folklore in general, but it’s especially useful to those studying the origins of the tales of King Arthur and the specific details of how new content has flavored his legend’s canon over the years.

Bruce, J. Douglas. “The Development of Arthurian Romance in Mediæval France.” The Sewanee Review 13.3 (1905): 319-35. JSTOR. The John Hopkins University Press. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.

In depth with his explanations of past conventions and etiquettes, Bruce details potential origins of the Arthurian legend and changes made between Arthur as both a king and a leader of the Briton forces during war with the Saxons.  He also explains how conceptions of chivalry traveled to Northern France to redefine Arthur and future characters as the traditionally gallant nobles and knights, among several other observations.

Campbell, T. M. “The Arthurian Dramas of Eduard Stucken.” Sewanee Review 21.2 (1913): 210-22. JSTOR. Web. 3 Oct. 2013.

This article, found in the Sewanee Review, describes the works of Eduard Stucken and how he thematically altered some Arthurian works for the purposes of relating to a changed audience.  Though the article is largely a lauding of Stucken and his works, the mentions of his work give him some credit as an author of Arthurian drama and detail some of the aspects of his work.

Gilbert, Elliot L. “The Female King: Tennyson’s Arthurian Apocalypse.” PMLA 98.5 (1983): 863-78. JSTOR. Modern Language Association. Web. 03 Oct. 2013.

This source describes the work of one Alfred Lord Tennyson, a man who published much poetry depicting the lives of King Arthur, Guinevere, and Sir Lancelot, and hardly in a flattering fashion.  It also takes the story of Guinevere’s unfaithfulness and thematically links that to other subjects, such as the connection between traditional sexual roles and the health of one’s nation, as well as the dangers of sexual role reversal.

Greenhalgh, M. J. “Arthurian Legend?” The Musical Times 112.1546 (1971): 1168-170. JSTOR. Musical Times Publications, Ltd. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.

This review covers King Arthur, a form of Arthurian tale told in semi-opera form originally written by Dryden and Purcell and adapted by Colin Graham and Philip Ledger.  Though the majority of the review is a scathing criticism of the changes made to the original work, it makes several references to the original work, as is appropriate for one properly critiquing any particular work.  These references disclose their fair portion about another Arthurian work that’s worth looking into as an additional source.

Lacy, Norris J. “From Medieval to Post-Modern: The Arthurian Quest in France.” South Atlantic Review 65.2 (2000): 114-33. JSTOR. South Atlantic Modern Language Association. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.

Though not specific in its Arthurian content, this South Atlantic Review article explains some key themes of several adventure tales, including the importance of ordeal, as explained through the character of Sir Galahad.  It is also a fairly modern article, as well as the only one recent enough to reference and justify Monty Python and the Holy Grail as a part of the Arthurian mythos.

Loomis, Roger Sherman. “Arthurian Tradition and Folklore.” Folklore 69.1 (1958): 1-25.JSTOR. Taylor & Francis, Ltd. Web. 23 Oct. 2013.

This 25-page article sorts out the question of whether King Arthur was based upon a real person or was perhaps the result of a conglomeration of general folklore of the regions in which his legend grew.  He references several key themes of Arthurian tales (such as the Beheading Game and hags who turn into beautiful maidens with a kiss) and relates them back to much older tales already in existence as his evidence.  Overall, it’s an enlightening article.

Loomis, Roger Sherman. “Geoffrey of Monmouth and Arthurian Origins.” Speculum 3.1 (1928): 16-33. JSTOR. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.

Found on the database JSTOR, this article by the same author behind “Arthurian Tradition and Folklore” offers and challenges the opinions of one referred to as “Mr. Gerould” as he draws parallels between the mythical King Arthur and the conqueror Charlemagne. He also covers and disputes the claim that Geoffrey of Monmouth was responsible as the originator of Arthurian Folklore.

Loomis, Roger Sherman. “Some Names in Arthurian Romance.” PMLA 45.2 (1930): 416-43.JSTOR. Modern Language Association. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.

Another article by the prolific Roger Loomis, this source takes names both common and uncommon from the Arthurian canon and identifies both their roots and their variants in various, international tales potentially based off of the old legends.  Though lengthy and boasting a high vocabulary, it holds valuable information for those looking to examine the history of some Arthurian stories, as well as stories branching out from the source.

Maynadier, G. H. “The Evolution of Arthurian Romance by James Douglas Bruce.” Modern Language Notes 39.8 (1924): 482-87. JSTOR. The John Hopkins University Press. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.

A meta-critique of sorts, Maynadier’s 6-page review of The Evolution of Arthurian Romance pays respects to the late author while covering the important aspects of his work. He lays out the time period that was covered by the author, mentions specific, well-known works both included and excluded from the work, and details what would be a good additional source for material on Arthurian folklore.

Millican, Charles Bowie. “Spenser and the Arthurian Legend.” The Review of English Studies 6.22 (1930): 167-74. JSTOR. Oxford University Press. Web. 03 Oct.

A source derived from JSTOR, this article mainly involves details of the author Spenser and his work “The Faerie Queene” and how the work itself ties in with Arthurian legend.  However, it also speaks at length about translations of other works, including many French translations and works.  The reading can be confusing at times, as the author uses several lengthy quotes that take up anywhere from five lines to a third of a page, but much of it is necessary for understanding the author’s point.

Women, Feminism, and Jane Austen

Imagine having to spend your entire lives cooking, cleaning, painting tables, doing needlepoint, and playing piano all day. Sounds awesome, right? Now imagine that everyone around you is going to college and getting smarter, and now you are sitting in a room full of people that assumed you are not their equal because of the way you were born. Oh, and they own your entire life. That is how women felt in a society full of men that did not believe women were equals. That is probably how Jane Austen lived.

In the 1790s, before feminism was a term that people used regularly, there were bold, brazen women like Mary Wollstonecraft who stood up and fought for her right as a human being, and there were quiet, subtle workers who yearned for the same freedoms. Jane Austen is the latter. Austen did not scream and kick and put up a fight; instead, she decided to create strong, intelligent heroines that inspired readers all over the world.

Why feminism? Jane Austen is one of the most popular female authors of her time. She constantly mentioned the social and economic standing of females in the eighteenth century, created female characters that were headstrong, independent, and intelligent, and she influenced many women. Austen expressed her disdain for a woman’s status in several, if not all, of her books, but was able to soften it with comedy and happy endings. Life was portrayed realistically; a woman had to get married if she wanted to survive.

The following selective annotated bibliography includes a variety of sources regarding women, gender, and feminism in Jane Austen’s books. Works include analyses of Austen’s novels, influences on Austen herself, and the prevalence of feminism within her work.

Students, scholars, and teachers may use this bibliography for a greater understanding of women, gender, and feminism in Jane Austen’s novels.

Anderson, Kathleen. “Fathers and Lovers: The Gender Dynamics of Relational Influence in Emma.” Persuasions On-Line 21.2 (2000): n. pag. Summer 2000. Web. 23 Oct. 2013.

Anderson argues that Emma’s character growth was not beneficial; Emma became a submissive wife. In the article, Anderson closely examines the roles of Emma’s father and Mr. Knightley, as well as the similarities between Emma’s relationship with Harriet and Mr. Knightley’s relationship with Emma. Patriarchal figures play a part in the deciphering of relationships in Emma, oftentimes confusing gender roles. This is a beneficial source for those who wish to delve into the question of gender roles in Emma.

Ascarelli, Miriam. “A Feminist Connection: Jane Austen and Mary Wollstonecraft.” Persuasions On-Line 25.1 (2004): n. pag. Winter 2004. Web. 23 Oct. 2013.

Ascarelli’s article reveals the similarities between Mary Wollstonecraft and Austen, although their approaches to feminism are drastically different. Ascarelli explains the political turmoil in the 1790s, Wollstonecraft’s writing and botched reputation, Austen’s subtle feminist agenda, and why Jane Austen may have avoided establishing a public connection between Wollstonecraft and herself. Also, Jane Austen’s “fairytale endings” are put into perspective for anyone that is skeptical of Austen’s role as a feminist icon.

Booth, Wayne C. “Emma, Emma, and the Question of Feminism.” Persuasions 5 (1983): 29-40. Jasna.org. Jane Austen Society of North America, Feb. 2009. Web. 23 Oct. 2013.

Booth’s article is separated into five sections discussing the idea of the love story as a necessary evil within Emma. Booth explains the dangers of Emma and taking the male roles too seriously, as well as Austen’s reasoning behind Emma’s strong, overpowering male characters. He continues by giving examples on how to keep a clear head (and heart) while reading the novel. This article provides a lighthearted view on the dangers of reading Emma without sufficient comprehension skills and showcases Austen’s ability to keep Emma Woodhouse a feminist role model.

Brown, Lloyd W. “Jane Austen and the Feminist Tradition.” Nineteenth-Century Fiction 28.3 (1973): 321-38. JSTOR. Web. 23 Oct. 2013.

Composed for graduate students and professors, Brown’s eighteen page article addresses the difficulty many scholars have in defining the feminist and female aspects of Jane Austen’s novels; examples from Persuasion on inherently “female” characteristics; comparisons between Austen’s novels and Mary Wollstonecraft’s Vindication of the Rights of Woman regarding education; sexual passion and modesty in Austen’s work; and finally, Austen’s treatment of marriage. Brown delves into Austen’s work using comparisons with James Fordyce, Mary Wollstonecraft, and Thomas Gisborne, producing an in depth analysis of female stereotypes and truths.

Jeffers, Regina. “Jane Austen and Feminism.” Austen Authors. Austen Authors, 20 Jan. 2011. Web. 01 Oct. 2013.

Regina Jeffers uses her experiences as a child of the women’s movement in 1968 as a tether to Jane Austen’s feminist role in the early eighteenth century; Jeffers also brings up the difficulties of being a female writer in Austen’s time. This article is composed for easy understanding, and is beneficial for those who know little to nothing about Jane Austen and Mary Wollstonecraft, as well as women writers in the eighteenth century.

Kirkham, Margaret. “III Allusion, Irony and Feminism in the Austen Novels.” Jane Austen, Feminism and Fiction. Sussex: Harvester, 1983. 81-99. Print.

The third section of Kirkham’s book contains chapters twelve through sixteen, highlighting Austen’s earlier works: Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey, and Pride and Prejudice, as well as a short chapter entitled “Kotzebue and Theatrical Allusion in Mansfield Park and Emma”. Kirkham examines the schemas Austen uses in her early novels, the heroines, Austen’s steady improvements throughout each novel, and the influence of August von Kotzebue on her later works. This section of Jane Austen, Feminism and Fiction reveals the rise of the strong, intelligent heroines within Austen’s earlier novels as well as analyses on the concepts behind the stories themselves.

Marantz Cohen, Paula. “Jane Austen’s Rejection Of Rousseau: A Novelistic And Feminist Initiation.” Papers On Language & Literature 30.(1994): 215-234. Humanities Full Text (H.W. Wilson). Web. 24 Oct. 2013.

Marantz Cohen proposes that Jane Austen was not a traditional feminist; Austen reacted to the female stereotypes in a more refined fashion, and her feminist perspective grew as her writing skills did (215). Northanger Abbey and Pride and Prejudice are used to show Rousseau’s influence of Austen’s writing style and schema, opinions on education, heroines, and concept of nature. Marantz Cohen shows the growth within feminist understanding in Jane Austen’s writing.

Moffat, Wendy. “Identifying with Emma: Some Problems for the Feminist Reader.” College English 53.1 (1991): 45-58. JSTOR. Web. 23 Oct. 2013.

Moffat’s essay is separated into sections: “The Problem of Emma’s Autonomy”, “Marriage and the Genre of Emma”, “The Problem of Knightley” and “The Relation of Narrator to Reader”. Moffat, as a “feminist reader”, uses her skills to determine whether the use of history should be involved while teaching about Emma, and “about the relation between academic reading…and naïve reading” (45). This essay provides examples of why Emma is not often considered a feminist novel, and why Emma may not be considered a feminist heroine.

Morrison, Sarah R. “Of Woman Borne: Male Experience And Feminine Truth In Jane Austen’s Novels.” Studies In The Novel 26.(1994): 337-349. Humanities Full Text (H.W. Wilson). Web. 22 Oct. 2013.

In this article, Morrison discusses the lack of inner life in Austen’s male characters, and whether it is attributed to the condemnation of female stereotypes or the equality of men and women (349). The lack of sexual relationships as well as the abundance of strong familial relationships and friendships are used to unveil Austen’s feminist vision. Morrison uses the thirteen-page article to touch on subjects such as male power and marriage in Austen’s novels.

Swords, Barbara. “”Woman’s Place” in Jane Austen’s England.” Persuasions 10 (1988): 76-82. Jasna.org. Jane Austen Society of North America, Feb. 2008. Web. 23 Oct. 2013.

Barbara Swords explores the legal rights, economic security, marriage, and (especially) education of women in Jane Austen’s time. Swords examines the female characters of Austen’s novels and how marriage and education affected the characters’ growth and economic standing throughout the stories. The article provides insight into the lives of women in the nineteenth century as well as the realistic representation of these issues in Jane Austen’s work.

Literature in Colonial America: A Selective Annotated Bibliography

Literature in Colonial America: A Selective Annotated Bibliography

Stepping off of the old weather beaten vessel, an explorer looks upon the foreign land of North America. He sees a dense undergrowth of plants underneath a canopy of trees unknown to the European scientists back home. Beyond the rocky shore of the coastline, a head with dark skin and long black hair peeks from behind a tree trunk. The explorer doesn’t know what is ahead, but there are certain hopes he holds in his heart for this new world that has never been experienced before.

There were many reasons for explorers to make the long journey across the Atlantic Ocean. Some were in search of wealth while others only had hopes to worship as they please. No matter the reason for their exploration, these explorers left behind accounts of their discoveries and experiences by way of literature. This genre of literature, whether in the form of journals, poetry, novels, or diaries, is important because it provides readers with a look into the American past. Not only does colonial and early literature provide primary accounts of the first years in America, but it continues to provide history on important events of American history such as the American Revolution, the writing of the Constitution, and even racial attitudes surrounding slavery.

The following selective annotated bibliography includes an extensive variety of primary and secondary sources concerning the colonial period of America to the 1800s. Sources within this bibliography include topics over slave narratives, literature written by women, a history of the original colonies, journals of the first explorers and settlers of America, accounts from colonial governors, history and literature from Puritan societies, early literature concerning the American landscape, journals of captain John Smith, important documents of early America, and the place of women and African Americans in early years. This annotated bibliography includes varying types of literature, focusing on primary sources of the colonial years, which revolves around the topic of the discovery and development in America.

Students and researchers will find this detailed bibliography beneficial for numerous reasons. The wide variety of different sources will provide scholars with many leads concerning the history of America. Not only are male authors looked at, but women and African American sources are also covered. This allows for anyone who should use this bibliography to have leads on different genres of colonial and American literature.

Berkin, Carol. “The Easy Task of Obeying.” Revolutionary Mothers: Women in the Struggle for America’s Independence. New York: Random House, 2005. 3-12. Print.

Berkin discusses within this chapter the tasks and stereotypes in society that were placed upon women during the events of the American Revolution. The chapter begins with an account of John Winthrop who said his wife had appeared to have gone mad. Later Winthrop realizes that it was due to her reading books. Knopf then discusses the education of men and women in colonial America. The remaining portion of the chapter goes into the details of weddings during colonial years and what women were expected to bring into the marriage. The author comes to the conclusion that women in colonial society were expected to bring certain skills to a marriage and uphold the household by doing chores and taking care of the children.

“The Colonial Period 1607-1765.” Initial Studies in American Letters by Henry Augustin Beers. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.

            Within this online article, the writer argues the idea that colonial literature is more important as a history source than as a source of literature. He supports his arguments by providing accounts of settlers of the original thirteen colonies and how these accounts provide more information on the history of early American than the history of colonial literature. He then supports his statement by discussing, in the remaining portion of the article, how there was a lack of literary growth in the early years of the colonies.

Conron, John. “Eighteenth-Century Perspectives: Natural History and the Sublime.” The American Landscape; a Critical Anthology of Prose and Poetry. New York: Oxford UP, 1973. 141-61. Print.

            In this selected chapter, the author discusses the changing perspective of landscape in the eighteenth century by providing selections of early America literature from men such as William Bartram and Thomas Jefferson. Conron provides in this chapter primary selections from both Bartram and Jefferson who are discussing how the changings of ideas towards landscapes are affecting America. The author concludes the chapter by discussing the three new concepts concerning landscape to come out of the 1800s: landscape as natural history, landscape as sublime scenery, and landscape as scripture.

Elliott, Emory. “Benjamin Franklin.” American Colonial Writers. Detroit, MI: Gale Research, 1984. 125-48. Print.

            This selected section of Emory’s book contains information on the founding father and author Benjamin Franklin. Along with information on his birth, death, marriage, Emory provides a list of Franklin’s literary works and the dates they were published. The early life of Franklin, his first publications such as the Dogood papers, his different employments, the effect that the Poor Richards Almanac had on the culture of America, and the satires that he published are discussed. Emory concludes by discussing how Franklin’s autobiography is his best-known work.

Brown, Kathleen M. “Settlement of Red, White, and Black: Gender and Race in Colonial Virginia.” Major Problems in the History of the American South. Documents and Essays. Ed. Escott, Paul D. Boston U.a.: Houghton Mifflin, 1999. 45-56. Print.

            In an essay written by Kathleen Brown, the author debates the different views of gender and race of the 1700s in Virginia. She begins by discussing the interactions and feelings that colonial settlers had towards Indians. The focus then switches to the development and acceptance of slavery in colonial America and what the attitudes towards slavery were. She finishes the chapter by comparing white and African women as laborers and the situations dealing with illegitimate children in the colonies.

 

Zamora, Margarita. “Christopher Columbus’s “Letter to the Sovereigns”: Announcing the Discovery.” New World Encounters. Greenbalt, Stephen Berkeley: University of California, 1993. 1-12. Print.

            This selected section of Greenblatt’s book is written by Margarita Zamora and provides a primary source written by Columbus in 1492 concerning his announcement of the discovery of America. Before the primary source is provided though, the author discusses the history of the document and how, unlike recently, it was thought that only one of the four versions of the document had survived. In 1989 thought, a translated English version comes into public light, making this recently discovered document the newest Columbian source since the 1800s. The selection concludes by providing the text of the primary document.

“Harvest of Freedom 1764-1788.” Introduction. Chronicle of America. Ed. Clifton Daniel. Liberty, MO: JL International, 1989. N. pg. Print.

            In this introduction to a chapter that contains artistic renderings and newspaper articles from the revolutionary period of America, the editor provides a summary of the events that surrounded America’s fight for independence. Such events included are the Seven Years War, Stamp Act, Tea Act, Quartering Act, and the Boston Massacre. The editor then provides summaries on the documents during this time that influenced the American Revolution such as Thomas Paine’s Common Sense and the Declaration of Independence.

Pastor, Bodmer Beatriz. “Christopher Columbus and the Definition of America as Booty: Images of an Unknown World.” The Armature of Conquest: Spanish Accounts of the Discovery of America, 1492-1589. Stanford, CA: Stanford UP, 1992. 1-20. Print.

            Within this chapter of Pastor’s book, the author argues that the discovery of the North American mainland by Columbus was the beginning process of the destruction of American reality, meaning that his discovery caused much devastation on the indigenous populations of America. The author begins his argument by providing accounts of pervious explorers who had written about the idea of a New World, such as Las Casas and Marco Polo. He then concludes by discussing how the devastation of the Indian’s population occurred. Throughout the chapter, the author’s tone indicates his lack of approval regarding Columbus and his actions.

Pearce, Roy Harvey. “The Pilgrim.” Colonial American Writing. New York: Rinehart, 1950. 25-49. Print.

            Contained in this chapter written by Pearce are the accounts of the colonial governor of the Plymouth Colony William Bradford. The author provides a bibliographical note on the primary source that is provided. This source is The History of Plymouth Plantation, written between 1620 and 1651. Within this document Bradford provides the history of why he and his followers established the Plymouth colony, the voyage they experienced coming to America, the Mayflower Compact that Bradford signed, the social and economic problems for the colony in 1623, and as Bradford puts it, “the weakening of the pilgrim way”.

           

Perkins, George, and Barbara Perkins, eds. “Thomas Paine.” The American Tradition in Literature. 12th ed. Vol. 1. New York: McGraw Hill, 2009. 333-57. Print.

            Within this section of this book that contains early American literature, the editors provide and brief background on Thomas Paine. They discuss his early life and early career positions that he held. Also discussed are his early publications, which lead to the primary documents, written by Thomas Paine, included within this section. Within one document, entitled Common Sense, Paine discusses his views on the current American state and how America needs to fight for their independence. The section also provides The American Crisis, which also discusses the events at hand before the Revolutionary war. The final document called The Age of Reason provides examples of Paine’s views of theology.

Scheick, William J. Authority and Female Authorship in Colonial America. Lexington: University of Kentucky, 1998. Print.

            This book contains information on women authors of colonial America. It does not discriminate, however, since it also provides information on African American writer Phillis Wheatley.  Numerous primary sources are referenced such as Cotton Mather’s Manual for Women, a captivity narrative by Elizabeth Hanson, Anne Bradstreet’s letter to her husband. The author’s argument in book is that during the colonial period, female authorship did not have the ability to reach into the realm of literature produced by men.

           

Shockley, Ann Allen. “Phillis Wheatley.” Afro-American Women Writers: 1746-1933: An Anthology and Critical Guide. Boston, MA: Hall, 1988. 17-25. Print.

            Within this selected chapter, Shockley provides a brief history on the author Phillis Wheatley who lived from 1753 to 1784. The author describes how Wheatley was the second woman, after Anne Bradstreet, and first African American woman to publish a volume of poetry in the U.S. The author then provides a list of works and their dates that were published by Wheatley and how these works affected literary circles in the North. This chapter also discusses how although Wheatley was welcomed into many white homes and seen as intelligent among her white counterparts, she did not take a stand in her poetry on the issue of slavery.

Smith, John, and James Horn. “Writings by Captain John Smith: A Desciption of New England.” Captain John Smith: Writings with Other Narratives of Roanoke, Jamestown, and the First English Settlement of America. New York, NY: Library of America, 2007. 119-75. Print.

            This selected chapter provides some of the different primary documents that Captain John Smith wrote concerning the very early years of the colonies in America. Multiple letters between the king in England and Smith are provided. Letters between John Smith and acquaintances back home can also be seen in this chapter. These letters discuss topics such as descriptions of the New World, with a focus on the New England colonies. The remaining majority of the chapter provides what is known as The First Booke, which was written by John Smith and includes the history of the first discoveries of North America.

 

Stedman, Edmund C. “How the English Settled in Maryland.” A Library of American Literature. 1888. 44-50. Print.

            This selected section of Edmund’s book is written by an anonymous author. The subject of the primary document provided concerns the settlement of the Maryland colony. The document begins by discussing the voyage to the New World. Accounts dealing with Indian contact are also discussed. The document continues by going into great detail on how the Indians were dressed, how many wives they had, and what type of armies they had. The conclusion of the chapter comes as the anonymous author discusses the Indian’s lack of Christian beliefs and the establishment of the Maryland colony.

 

Taylor, Alan. “Middle Colonies 1600-1700.” American Colonies. New York: Viking, 2001. 245-75. Print.

            Within this chapter, the author discusses the history and development of the middle colonies of colonial America. Taylor begins by discussing how the middle colonies were more fertile and healthier than those of the New England and Chesapeake regions. Maps are provided throughout the chapter as the author begins to discuss the various Indian groups within the area. The developments of the settlements of the middle colonies are then discussed. The author goes into details about the colonies of New Netherland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The chapter is concluded by providing details on the diversity within these specific colonies.

Postmodernism and Young Adult Fiction

Postmodernism and Young Adult Fiction

            In order to understand postmodernism we must first place a definition on it. Although ambiguous at times, postmodernism can be defined as texts after World War II or texts that break away from traditional narratives such as modern literature or anything to previous to that. Playfulness, intertextuality, non-linear narratives, pop-up pictures, breaking traditional literary rules, and distortion are some characteristics that may define postmodernism in young adult fiction.

Is postmodern young adult fiction limited to just entertainment value or does it have a scholarly and literary value? While entertaining, young adult fiction contributes to the literary progression that is postmodernism. Postmodernism is happening now and although we may not completely grasp the significance of this literary era, I believe that children’s books and young adult fiction will hold their literary value. The combination of past themes that are presented differently gives these texts literary values. Like postmodernism, young adult fiction needs to be defined. Young adult fiction normally has a teenager as a protagonist and this type of genre is marketed heavily towards teenagers.

The following selective annotated bibliography shows a wide range of various sources that specifically scopes in on postmodernism in young adult fiction. Works in this collection positivelyand negatively criticize postmodernism in these texts and how some are used in the classroom setting. Different texts are discussed including: novellas, pop-up children’s books, graphic novels, and novels in this collection.

This annotated bibliography may prove beneficial to teachers, students, and scholars, and parents in various ways. Teachers and parents can use these sources to examine progression in their child’s or student’s academic career. Students in high school or higher education might use these sources to better define postmodernism. Scholars’ usage of these sources would mainly focus on the literary impact that these texts have made.

Bodmer, George R. “The Post-Modern Alphabet: Extending the Limits of the Contemporary Alphabet Book, from Seuss to Gorey.”. Children’s Literature Association Quarterly 14.3 (Fall 1989): 115-117. Rpt. in Children’s Literature Review. Ed. Tom Burns. Vol. 100. Detroit: Gale, 2005. Literature Resource Center. Web. 3 Oct. 2013.

This source is a critical essay that compares the writers of modernism and postmodernism in order to see differences and maybe even progression. Dr. Seuss and Edward Gorey are the two authors that are profiled because of their picture books and non-traditional vocabulary. Not only does Dr. Seuss touch on new words, but also on new worlds. The article is mainly pointing out a stretch and strain of traditional literature in order to achieve more wonder.

Boje, David M. “Stories of the Storytelling Organization.” Academy of Management Journal 38.4 (1995): n. pag. ProQuest. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.

This source has a lot of information so I zoomed in under different titles. The author claims that Walt Disney made storytelling darker using the play Tamara. Tamara is targeted towards children and uses premodern, modern, and most importantly postmodern structure. Walt Disney set out to transform storytelling and that is exactly what he did. Disney also uses these non-traditional frameworks to construct theme parks, movies. cartoons, and other commodities.

Chappell, Drew. “Sneaking out after Dark: Resistance, Agency, and the Postmodern Child in JK Rowling’s ‘Harry Potter’ Series.” Children’s Literature in Education 39.4 (Dec. 2008): 281-293. Rpt. in Children’s Literature Review. Ed. Jelena Krstovic. Vol. 183. Detroit: Gale, 2013. Literature Resource Center. Web. 3 Oct. 2013.

This source is a critical essay that focuses mainly on the postmodern child in JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series. The article first explains to readers the function of postmodernism then it goes into postmodernism. The article places emphasis on how the protagonist should avoid the traditional closure in a story. Ambiguity, complexity, agency, and resistance are some of the postmodern qualities that the article mentions about the Harry Potter series.

Coats, Karen. “Fish Stories: Teaching Children’s Literature in a Postmodern World.” Pedagogy 1.2 (Spring 2001): 405-409. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.

This source begins by comparing Dr. Seuss with Dickinson and Hardy in order to set up an invisible hierarchy of writers. Coats claims that students take children’s literature courses because they expect a simple and easy workload. Using concepts of postmodern ideology, she explains to us how beneficial examining children’s literature is. Piety, domesticity, oppression, dominance, capitalism, and imperialism are all examples of what we should look for when analyzing a text. Coats’ colleagues compare her simplistic stories to that of fish stories, but she offers them a chance to see methodological pluralism and literacy challenges at work when exploring children’s texts.

Daniels, Cindy L. “Literary Theory and Young Adult Literature.” The ALAN Review, Winter 2006. 78-82. Web. 24 Oct.2013.

Daniels advocates that we separate young adult literature from children’s literature while simultaneously placing no genre above the other. J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter is a focal point in this argument that young adult literature needs to take on more serious literary criticism. Although postmodernism is not talked about, there seems to be quite a few postmodern texts discussed. Overall, this article discusses the notion that young adult literature has not really been explored yet and needs to be considering that there are so postmodern texts making contributions to the literary canon.

El-Tamami, Wiam. “The Simple Little Picture Book: Private Theater to Postmodern Experience.” The Free Library. Alif: Journal of Comparative Poetics, 1 Jan 2007. Web. 24 Oct.

2013.

This source makes the argument that picture books are not just for children. This particular article advocates that we should not remove pictures out of texts just because we

become proficient readers. The author compares picture books to that of poetry because both take on a deeper meaning than just the literal. Picture books have a tendency to try on

different frames. Overall, this source suggests that picture books hold more literary value than given credit for.

Lewis, David. “Postmodern Picturebooks: Play, Parody, and Self-Referentiality (review).” Project MUSE. Children’s Literature Association Quarterly, Spring 2009. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.

This excerpt for this text tells us that within the past two decades that people are experimenting with different ways to write children’s books. The article discusses briefly that

people are still having a hard time placing a specific and precise label on postmodernism. This article also tells us that authors are producing these children’s books quickly and in doing

so keeping the literary world busy. With so much publishing of postmodern picture books audiences can see a drastic almost strange change in fiction.

Loo, Hannah. “Children in Postmodern Literature: A Reconstruction of Childhood.” hilo.hawaii.edu. University of Hawai’i at Hilo, Fall 2011. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.

Loo points out those children who are reading postmodern texts are experimenting with adult worlds and adult issues. The author focuses heavily on her belief that postmodern

texts for children are becoming increasingly more adult themed. Loo claims that there is a paradox between what children are expected to experience and what they actually do

experience. Overall, this article calls into question whether or not those postmodern texts are minimizing the disparity between adult and children literature.

Nicosia, Laura. “Louis Sachar’s Holes: Palimpsestic Use of the Fairy Tale to Privilege the Reader.” ALAN Review: (Summer 2008). Web. 26 Nov. 2013.

This article uses Sachar’s Holes to examine the postmodern retelling of fairy tales. The article goes onto to examine how the narrative affects readers in the sense of chronology. The

article claims that children’s literature and young adult fiction is starting to reach literary scrutiny that could be compared to that of adult canonical texts. The writer advocates

breaking away from traditional chronological order and he uses Holes as an example. In Holes there are two narratives going on at the same time, one questions what is real and the

other focuses on the past or the magical.

Seyfried, Jonathan. “Reinventing the Book Club: Graphic Novels as Educational Heavyweights.” Knowledge Quest 36.3 (2008): 44-48. MetaPress.com, n.d. Web. 24. Oct. 2013

The article starts off as a type of memoir describing why this man wants to set up a book club for graphic novels. Seyfried discusses how the visual arts in such texts provide an

entertaining narrative. From Seyfried’s experiences middle school students seem to have a positive reaction to the formatting of graphic novels. Seyfried claims that graphic novels

provide a bridge between the gap of entertainment and prose texts. He ends the article with suggestions about how to approach the graphic novel to young minds.

Spitz, Ellen. “Postmodern at Bedtime.” New Republic. 26 January 2010.Web. 26 Nov. 2013.

This article examines the retelling of the famous story about the three little pigs. It also calls into question to whether or not we have lost something by retelling the story.

Fear is the main theme that has been completely discarded in the new version of the three little pigs and the author questions whether removing it harms of helps the story telling.

He leans towards the story being more harm than help.

Wasik, Joann. “The Bad Place: Why Kids Love Dystopias.” WeAreTeachers Blog, 21 May 2012. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.

The author discovers that kids do not only love dystopian texts, but they love new dystopian texts. The author claims that kids can relate to dystopian texts, but only on a much

smaller scale. In dystopian works normally there is an authoritative overseer in which characters have conflict with. Wasik states that most of these scenarios in these texts leave

readers wondering what they would do if they were to experience that. Wasik makes these works out to be a more grotesque and dark version of the little engine that could story.

Yearwood, Stephenie. “Popular Postmodernism for Young Adult Readers: Walk Two Moons, Holes, and Monster.” ALAN Review 29.3 (Spring-Summer 2002): 50-53. Rpt. in

      Children’s Literature Review. Ed. Scot Peacock. Vol. 89. Detroit: Gale, 2004. Literature Resource Center. Web. 3 Oct. 2013.

This source is a critical essay that reviews a book for further investigation into postmodernism and young adult literature. The article reviews Walk Two Moons, Holes,

and Monster and uses them to approach postmodernism in young adult fiction, but at the same time tries to define postmodernism. The article also talks about postmodernism

young adult fiction as a great way to bring up old themes.

Zwaggstra, Michael. “Postmodernism in the Classroom.” Adventist Review. N.p., 18 April 2013. Web. 17 Oct. 2013.

The article claims that postmodernism negatively affects the classroom. It also states that postmodernism takes away from biblical values. The writer goes onto to claim that

postmodernist writers have no new ideas, when they pretentiously think they do. This article’s writer claims that postmodernism deemphasizes the role of the teacher because it

encourages children to think freely. This article is useful because it does provide a counter argument to the positive side of postmodernism in the classroom.

Christian Fiction annotated bibliography

Christian fiction is a genre of fiction in the world of writing that has Christian elements in the story like characters having religious backgrounds or a religious journey a character has to make in order to become a better person.  It is a very small genre because it is unrecognizable by most readers who are fans of more contemporary fiction.  That is not to say that Christian fiction doesn’t have good stories or characters.  It does, but it is underrated in the world of literature.  One of the reasons why it is this way is because of the content.  Christian fiction does not contain the profanity, violence, and premarital sex that most books describe.  This is what sets it apart from those other books and what makes it so unique in the eyes of its writers, scholars, and readers.  Today, Christian fiction is gaining an audience despite not being as well recognized as works like those of writers such as Stephen King and Nora Roberts.

The main focus of this annotated bibliography is to look at the history of Christian fiction and how it is represented by writers and scholars alike.  There are a variety of sources from web reviews, books, and journal articles.  They describe certain works that happen to be in the genre of Christian fiction such as works like that of Loving Liza Jane by Sharlene MacLaren.  For example, there are the various subcategories found in this genre like romance and suspense with a more Christian element to them and how significant they are to our society.  These eleven sources can be used to help someone who is writing a paper on this genre of writing.

The people who would benefit the most from this bibliography are students in a creative writing class or English research class and teachers who teach said classes.  For an English research class, if Christian fiction is a genre the students are interested in, they can use these sources to write a paper on it and its history.  For a creative writing class, students can write a short story or any other kind story with elements from this genre to allow their story to reach out to other readers, who are interested in the genre.  Teachers can use this bibliography to show their students that literature doesn’t have to be vile, disgusting, and cruel to be entertaining, and how it can inspire those students to become successful writers without falling into the trap of following other writers who don’t use Christianity as a main or supporting character in their stories.

Benrey, Ron.  The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Writing Christian Fiction.

New York, New York: Penguin Group, 2007.

In print.  30  September 2013.

Ron Benrey describes the origins of Christian fiction and how a writer can go about writing in this genre.  The book even deals with the subcategories of Christian fiction from mystery to romance to young adult.  There is an interesting look into writing in this particular genre.  Also, the writer can learn at his/her own pace as opposed to being in a classroom and having to work at times when he/she can’t do anything else.  This book would be great to use for a paper on the origins of Christian fiction.

Butler, Tamara.  “Christian fiction.” Library Journal.  128.10 (2003): page 78.

Web.   23 October 2013.

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?action=interpret&id=GALE%7CA202012881&v=2.1&u=tel_a_ttul&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&authCount=1

Tamara Butler is a librarian at the Olean Public Library in New York.  She writes in this article about how she has been looking to inspirational books to help her readers.  Many of those inspirational books come in the form of Christian fiction.  She has used these books to touch the lives of many students who have walked through her library doors.  This shows her dedication to them and the great literature being written in the genre of Christian fiction.

Cahn, Jonathan.  The Harbinger.  FrontLine.  2011.  In print.  2 October 2013.

In this story, a man discovers that the most recent American disasters from the terrorist attacks of 9/11 to the stock market collapse in 2008 were hinted at in the Book of Isaiah in the Bible.  This is a different kind of Christian fiction.  It combines elements of a thriller with that a Biblical verse found in the Old Testament.  Also, it combines fictional events with real-life events that happened not too long ago.  This is what makes the book so interesting.  It allows the reader to look the events described and come to the conclusion of the Bible verse’s truth on their own terms.

Conkling, Micah Levi.  “Where Did Good Christian Fiction Go?”

Relevant Magazine.  10 May 2012.   Website.  30 September 2013.

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/books/blog/29167-where-did-good-christian-fiction-go

Conkling proposes in this article that good Christian fiction is hard to find nowadays.  There are plenty of other genres doing very well on the market, but Christian fiction basically goes unnoticed by the general public.  He goes on to say that books, especially those of the Christian fiction genre have the ability to change the lives of certain people, especially those who lead troubled lives.

Crosby, Cindy.  “Sizzle, sizzle … fizzle, fizzle … amid shifting genres, Christian fiction finds inspiration in nostalgia and timeless themes.”  Publisher’s Weekly.

259.7 (2012): page S1. Magazine.  2 October 2013.

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA280192207&v=2.1&u=tel_a_ttul&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w

This article looks into different Christian fiction stories from writers like Klassen and Tricia Goyer.  Cindy Crosby takes a look at these books and writes about what other editors and writers have said about them.  She even talks about how some of these books are gaining attention among readers with their versatility, especially the historical Christian fiction books like Echoes of Titanic and many others that are set in early America.

Dacus, Kaye.  “Christian fiction.”  The Writer.  123.3 (2010): page 7.

Academic OneFile.  Web.  30 September 2013.

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA217040758&v=2.1&u=tel_a_ttul&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w

The writer of this article begins by thanking an editor for publishing an article called “The spirit of Christian fiction today” written by Randy Rudder.  He then goes on to explain what Rudder mentioned in his article about a group called Christian Writers Guild, and the largest branch of it was the American Christian Fiction Writers.  They seem to be an interesting group of people, who get together and talk about their Christian fiction.

Duncan, Melanie C. Christian Fiction: A Born-Again Genre.  Library Journal Reviews and Genre Spotlight.

14 February 2012.  Website.  30 September 2013. 

http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/2012/02/collection-development/genre-spotlight-christian-fiction-a-born-again-genre/

Melanie Duncan talks about the advantages to Christian fiction as a genre, seeing as though it has low emphasis on profanity, sex, and violence.  She mentions that the demographic for these books are mostly middle-aged women.  Plus, she even mentions Christian romance fiction that has certain qualities a story of that genre must have.  Of course, that is not to say that Christian fiction cannot have some kind of reality in its message.

Hill, Nanci Milone. “Christian fiction.” Library Journal. 138.14 (2013): n/a.

Popular Magazines. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.

http://search.proquest.com/docview/1417945126

In this series of book reviews, Nanci Hill talks about the different variety of Christian fiction novels from a tale about Amish vampires to a murder mystery, all touching on Christian elements.  For each review, she gives a brief synopsis of the story and what it deals with.  Then, she talks about whether it is good or not, or rather she gives what she calls a verdict.  Many of these stories revolve around Amish communities, but they still show Christian elements such as lack of profanity, violence, and premarital sex like any good Christian fiction book would do.

Miller, Donald E.  “The Truth of the Christian Fiction: Belief in the Modern Age.”

Christian Century.  N/A (1979): page 97.  Journal article.

30 September 2013.  http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=1209

This article deals with many subjects that are not usually touched upon in the religious world.  Dr. Donald E. Miller splits this article up into seven different sections. They are A Crisis of Faith, Form and Substance, The Reification Process, Fiction and Myth, Vessels of the Holy, The Symbolic Form of Jesus, and Toward a More Mature Theology.  He starts off by talking about how perplexing Christianity can be for certain denominations like the Protestants and Catholics.  Then, he goes into the seven different sections, describing each one in great detail. 

Neal, Lynn.  Romancing God: Evangelical Women and Inspirational Fiction.

Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina, 1 February 2006.

In print.  30 September 2013.

Lynn Neal writes a book with interviews from writers and readers on the subject of Christianity and Christian fiction.  Also, in her tale, it talks about romance, but not just any romance.  It’s the kind of romance where God is in the center of the relationship and is the rock for the man and woman in the relationship during hard times.  For many romantic couples in literature, that relationship with God seems to be missing, and therefore, the romantic relationship will eventually fall apart.  That is not to say that all relationships are like that, but in a true, loving relationship, God is the glue that binds the love between a man and a woman for all eternity.  That is what Lynn Neal is trying to get across in her book.

Schaap, James Calvin. “On truth, fiction and being a Christian writer.”

The Christian Century.  114.36( 1997): page 1188.  Academic OneFile. Web.

           23 Oct. 2013.

Not only touching upon the themes of Christian fiction, this article also talks about what it means to be a Christian writer.  James Schaap introduces this to the readers by taking them back in time to when he was a child and had grown up, going to a Christian school in a Christian community.  At first, he didn’t like reading, but like most children who did not enjoy reading, he eventually came to like it upon growing up.  Upon becoming a writer himself, he soon discovered what it truly meant to be a Christian writer by reading Christian novels in which he could relate to the characters.  This shows that even if a person does not gravitate toward Christianity in literature, God’s grace will find a way into their heart through a thoughtful and enjoyable book.

Use of religion and God in C.S. Lewis’ Work The Chronicles of Narnia

Introduction

           A prince, talking animals, kings, queens, and a lion who sacrifices himself for the good of humanity: step into the magical world of Narnia, the world that changes throughout each novel of the chronicles. Even after all the years that have passed since the publication of these magical works, they are still being used by book clubs, in the classroom, and for individual, pleasure reading.

Although Christianity has been taken out of most schools, these works have such a subtle tone of Christianity that it would not be a betrayal to the schools who wish to keep religion out of their curriculum. Not only is there a religious aspect, but there are also lessons that these  books offer to children and adults alike. To children, these novels, especially The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, explains the importance of family and not lying. To adults, these novels explain the importance of sacrifice. Another aspect these novels explain to adults is how to gain a deeper meaning of religion and spirituality that young readers of these novels cannot understand at first.

This selected annotated bibliography, mainly comprised of scholarly essays and journal articles,  gives a deeper look into the use of religion and the image of God in The Chronicles of Narnia. Because this annotated bibliography is comprised of fifteen sources just on the subject of C.S. Lewis’s chronicles, this bibliography can be used by more than just students and teachers; it can also be used by theologians and parents. This annotated bibliography in itself is an overview of how C.S. Lewis used religion and the God image in his novels.

Jacobs, Alan. “Into the Wonder: You Won’t Understand the Genius C.S. Lewis’s Literary Criticism, Satire, Science Fiction, and Theological Essays until You Spend Time in
Narnia.”Christianity Today  Dec. 2005: 36+. Religion and Philosophy Collection. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.

Jacobs’ article found in Christianity Today starts out by giving a brief history of Lewis’s life. Part of this history goes into detail about how Lewis began writing The Chronicles of Narnia and how before The Chronicles of Narnia were even written or published for that matter, it was suggested that Lewis already had it written in his head, but unknowingly. Jacobs states that Lewis’s writing of these books he was able to find his own beliefs and imagination.

Pietrusz, Jim. “Rites of Passage: The Chronicles of Narnia and the Seven Sacraments.” Mythlore 14.4 (Summer 1988): 61-63. Rpt. in Children’s Literature Review. Ed. Tom Burns.
Vol. 109. Detroit: Gale, 2005. Literature Resource Center. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.

In Pietrusz’s article, he describes the parallels between the Seven Sacraments of the Catholic and Anglican church and The Chronicles of Narnia. He goes through each sacrament and explains each of them. He explains which sacrament goes with each chronicle and gives adequate evidence for each one. For example, he associates the sacrament of Penance with the chronicle The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In this story, Edmund lies and betrays his siblings due to the temptations set up by the White Witch. Edmund is forgiven by his siblings and Aslan (the God figure in the chronicles), but he is only fully forgiven when Aslan sacrifices himself. Pietrusz concludes by saying that this was the ultimate subject Lewis could have written for children.

Glover, Donald E. “The Chronicles of Narnia, 1950-1956: An Introduction.” C.S. Lewis: The Art of Enchantment. Athens, Ohio: Ohio University Press, 1981. 131-134. Rpt. in
Children’s Literature Review. Ed. Tom Burns. Vol. 109. Detroit: Gale, 2005. Literature Resource Center. Web. 22      Oct. 2013

Glover’s article discusses Lewis’s use of enchantment and fantasy in his famous works The Chronicles of Narnia. Lewis established early on that children were legitimate readers, not people to be talked or written down upon. Glover writes that Lewis had multiple motives for writing. The first motive was to convey the images that had been in his head since the age of sixteen, the second motive was the spiritual aspect, the third was the challenge to keep argument and description in a healthy balance, and lastly he wanted to surpass the typical, expected response to religion. He concludes his article by saying he will leave the reader to distinguish the Christian symbolism found in The Chronicles of Narnia.

Cowart, Amber. “The Success of C.S. Lewis in The Chronicles of Narnia.” N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Sept. 2013.

Cowart’s paper starts off by saying that Lewis had two main purposes in writing The Chronicles of Narnia. Purpose one was to entertain readers and purpose two was to portray Christian analogies. According to Lewis, he did not intentionally mean to write a Christian allegory, but it just happened as he started writing. Cowart explains the importance Lewis saw on getting to those readers who did not believe in God because they were constantly told to. As his works were read, Cowart writes that Lewis’s Aslan became loved and wished for in our world.  She also emphasizes the point that was emphasized by Walter Hooper, that Narnia should not be described as an allegory but a ‘pure story.’ Cowart concludes her paper by saying that Lewis was successful at writing The Chronicles of Narnia including Christian apologetics because he was and still is a “good entertainer.”

Beutel, Heidi. “To Hell and Back Again: Edmund’s Transformation.” Inklings Forever 4 (2004): Web. 22 Oct. 2013.

Beutel’s essay goes through the transformation of Edmund, a character in Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. She describes his attitude and state at the beginning of the book, self-centered, spiteful, and lack of concern. As the essay goes on, she explains how each decision Edmund makes is slightly worse than the last which leads him down the road to Hell. After seeing the true nature of the Witch Beutel explains, Aslan comes to his rescue. She goes on to discuss how is attitude has changed. She concludes with saying that he used the experiences he went through as a learning tool and continued to grow into a better man throughout the rest of the chronicles.

Long, Josh B. “Disparaging Narnia: Reconsidering Tolkien’s View of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.” Mythlore 31.3-4 (2013): 31+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 22 Oct.
2013.

Long makes clear that his intention in this critical essay is to find out why Tolkien did not like the Narnia series. He speculates that Tolkien’s primary issues were the fact that Lewis did not take seriously his secondary world, Narnia. He also states the Tolkien did not believe Lewis knew what he was talking about. Lewis had created a world that was not put together the way Tolkien put together LOTR, says Long. Long goes on to say that Tolkien did not like Narnia because 1) it was meant for children and children, to Tolkien, did not understand fairy-stories, and 2) because he would have to admit that he actually liked the book. Tolkien was also against the fact that there was a, good, Christ-like figure that came back from the dead to save the creatures of Narnia from the White Witch,

McGrew, David B. “Apologetics in Narnia: Storytelling the Truth past Watchful Dragons.” (2011): 1-18. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.

In McGrew’s essay, he goes through each book in The Chronicles of Narnia and gives an excerpt from each book. Each excerpt gives an example of what a character learned and what apologetic undertone is interwoven in each novel. In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Peter and Susan learn to throw aside logic and blindly believe Lucy.  By this blind faith, they come to discover the magical world of Narnia. In Prince Caspian, McGrew says that one finds the key to Christianity. He concludes his essay by saying that fact and fiction, both appear in the chronicles, are needed together to serve the Church.

Higgens, Deborah. Allegory in C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: A Window to the Gospel of John.  Southern College, 1994. N.p., 1994: 147-163. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.

Higgens starts off her article with a question as to why a college English teacher would use fairy tales in a Biblical Literature class. She says that The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe are written so that they include Christian allegory and symbolism which is a great way to open the ‘window’ to the Gospel of John. She compares this chronicle with the Gospel of John by comparing the actions of Aslan with those of Christ such as bring life back to those who are ‘dead’, dying for his people, and resurrecting to continue his reign of as king. She concludes her paper by answering the question she poses in the beginning. She answers by saying that looking at the allegory which leads the reader to the book of John.

James, Russell. “Narnia as a Site of National Struggle: Marketing, Christianity, and National Purpose in “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” Cinema
Journal 48.4 (2009): 59-76. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.

Russell’s main point of this essay is to investigate the ways marketing can create meaning. He explains that when the movie The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was released, Walden Media put an emphasis on the Christian allegory. He divides his article into two major focuses. Focus one is on the historical context of the author, and focus two is to look closer at Walden Media. He concludes by saying that this adaptation is dangerous because it promoted certain traits that it did not live up to.

Fisher, H. Dennis. “C.S. Lewis, Platonism and Aslan’s Country Symbols of Heaven in The Chronicles of Narnia.” Inklings Forever 7 (2011): 1-14. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.

Fisher’s article found in Inklings Forever poses his thesis in the form of a question as to why Lewis uses Platonic ideas when they are conflicting to Christianity. He goes about answering this question by looking at the faith journey that Lewis traveled in his life, how he used Platonism in the Narnia series, and the imagery of Narnia, aka Aslan’s country, as heaven. Throughout the article, Fisher goes in the order he mentioned he would to answer his question. In his conclusion, he ties everything together and answers his question and restates his position.

Studwell, Jamie. “Christianity Reimagined: Images of God and the Devil in C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia.” Diss. Middlebury College, 2011: 4-75. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.

Studwell’s essay’s thesis is to look closer at the use of theology, God, and the Devil in the works of C.S. Lewis, but especially in The Chronicles of Narnia. She clearly outlines what she will be talking about in the table of contents. Her first section, after the introduction, dives right into the imagery of God in the Narnia series and explains why Aslan is the Christ figure and compares him to the actual Christ using references to the Bible. Throughout the rest of the dissertation, Studwell gives further support for her thesis. She concludes with whether or not these books are suitable for children.

Wood, Ralph C. “Good and terrible: the God of Narnia.” The Christian Century 122.26 (2005): 8+. Religion and Philosophy Collection. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.

In Wood’s article, found in The Christian Century magazine, the God of Narnia, Aslan, is examined and how he can be both terrifying and good at the same time. He addresses the fact that Lucy Pevensie is the only one who really knows the existence of other worlds and can see the goodness in everything…including Aslan, who is terrifying at the beginning. Wood makes connections between Aslan and the actual God who threatens terrible things, but who is, in the end, good. He concludes his article with comparing how Aslan is willing to die for the happiness of his people much like Christ died for the forgiveness of the sins of everyone on earth.

Fisher, Dennis. Narnia The Story Behind the Stories. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982. RBC Ministries. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.

Fisher’s booklet goes through each book of The Chronicles of Narnia to answer whether or not we relate to these books because of a sense of spirituality beyond our senses or because of common world themes. Although this booklet discusses the spiritual themes laced in the series, he says not to assume that Lewis meant to have all these spiritual elements. He does a comparison between Aslan and Christ, which is a big focal point of the series. He also addresses other parallels between the Bible and the Narnia series and presents his argument well. He concludes with an overall view of the series and gives suggested reading.

Muth, Benita Huffman. “Sir Thomas Browne, Screwtape, and the ‘Amphibians’ of Narnia.” Christianity and Literature 59.4 (2010): 645+. Religion and Philosophy Collection. Web.
16 Oct. 2013.

In Muth’s article, it is brought to light that Lewis borrowed certain ideas, such as the term ‘amphibianism’ from Sir Thomas Brown, a natural philosopher. One such idea is that the human participation in both the spiritual and real world is essential and they possess a spiritual and physical nature. These traits are taken and applied to the characters, both human and animal like, in The Chronicles of Narnia. Throughout the rest of the article, other ideas that Brown had written in his works that Lewis used not only in The Chronicles of Narnia but also some of his other works such as the Screwtape Letters.

Martindale, Wayne, and Jerry Root., eds.  The Quotable Lewis. Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, 1990. Print.

This book is a collection of exerts and personal quotes from C.S. Lewis and his works. Some of these excerpts come directly from the Chronicles of Narnia but others come from the man himself. Some of the quotes that are included in this book are not only from his books, but are quotes from him about his beliefs, writing, and why he wrote what he did. This book is a special collection that houses many insights into C.S. Lewis’ works and his own mind.

Mythological Heroes in Modern and Contemporary Literature

Introduction

    Golden Fleeces to recover, body parts to rediscover, and mazes to navigate. Mythological references litter everyday phrases and products. People use mythology everyday without realizing it. The mythology of the world surrounds everyone, and affects everything they do. Mythology most importantly affects literature. Authors have been using myths to influence and inspire their writing for inspiration and illusions for centuries.

    Mythology seems so far away and inconsequential at times. Why is it important to know who defeated the Minotaur in the labyrinth and how many children were sacrificed to it? Why is it so important to know that Loki was not only the god of mischief but also the god of illusions and riddles? Because they reappear today in contemporary literature such as in The Hunger Games, and in graphic novels, such as the  character the Joker from the Batman universe. It goes much farther back than that too. Knowing that these allusions exist gives the literature an entirely new depth.

    The sources in this bibliography focus on mythology and its influences on the modern world, specifically that of literature. Works include those that focus on a specific piece and the mythology that is at play there, and a few that deal with the idea of mythology as a whole. A few deal with mythology’s influence on a particular field of study. These ten  sources are organized alphabetically according to MLA standards.

    This bibliography can be used by a wide range of scholars. Anyone from students, teachers, and those that are just curious about  mythology. The bibliography is a general overview of sources that can be building blocks for others in this topic. The resources here may also lead researchers down a different path, like Mythology in feminist texts. What appears here is just a small scratch of the things mythology has touched.

Bahun-Radunović, Sanja, and V. G. Julie. Rajan. Myth and Violence in the Contemporary Female

             Text: New Cassandras. Burlington, VT: Ashgate, 2011. Print.

Bahun-Radunović edited this collection of articles that discuss the different types and uses of mythology in modern texts, specifically those by females. The articles within this book are divided into three parts: “Myth, Violence, Border-Crossing: Global Expressions of Self and Society”    , “Of Archetypes, Creativity, and Ethics: Inscribing the Feminine in Mythology”, and “Instead of an Afterword”. These articles discuss the use of Mythology in Novels, Poems, and Drama. The authors even mention multiple mythological heroes and their effect on Modern works. There are Indian, Greek, and Chinese mythologies at work in these articles.

Berndt, Katrin, and Lena Steveker. Heroism in the Harry Potter Series. Farnham: Ashgate,

             2011.   Print.

    Berndt and Steveker have gatheres articles for a book of that dissects Harry Potter and the type of heroism used in it. In the first part of the book there is an article by Lisa Hopkins, called “Rowling’s Web of Illusions”. This article discusses the similarities in Harry Potter and Homer’s The Iliad. In the second and third part of the book other authors mention that Harry becomes a hero through many trials, and that in some ways he reflects the persona of a Mythological  Hero. This book has a vast index that is easy to use and can help someone navigate the book.

Galloway, David. The Absurd Hero in American Fiction. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press,

1970. Print.

In this book by Galloway the American hero is explored in chapters like: “ The Myth of the Absurd” and “The Absurd Man as the Tragic Hero” This work discusses the use of the hero in the American novel, the development of the character, and the history of the character. There are a few instances when it becomes clear that the Modern American heroes are based on some Mythological heroes. Hercules and Oedipus can both be found in the extensive index.

Hamilton, Edith. Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes. New York, NY: Warner, 1999.

          Print.

    This book is one of the leading resources on mythology. Hamilton is a renowned researcher in this field. This book makes a fantastic addition to any research because it covers a wide range of mythology. It spans from simple myths around the world to in depth hero analysis.There are some specific chapters on each  Greek hero including ones on : “Jason”, “Hercules”, and “Perseus.” This book gives a very general and diverse view of mythology.

Magoulick, Mary. What Is Myth? N.p., 2003. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.

    This website is written to explain the different types of myths and the ways that they can and are used. She explains that myths can be used to make better parallels in literature, but they are also used in day to day life also. The biggest part of the article is when she mentions different types of mythology and the influences they have. She discusses Greek, Native American, and Norse. The information here is an excellent stepping stone for being able to pinpoint mythology in literature when it is used.

Newell, Dianne, and Victoria Lamont. “Rugged Domesticity: Frontier Mythology in Post-

            Armageddon Science Fiction by Women.” Science Fiction Studies 97th ser. 32.3 (2005):

            423-42. MLA International Bibliography. Web. 20 Oct. 2013.

    This journal article covers four science fiction novels from the years 1900-1999. These novels are all dystopian novels. They are based on the modern version of American’s civilization’s encounter with savagery that was identified by Rickard Slotkin. The novels that are discussed are Shadow on the Hearth by Judith Merril, Sunburst by Phylis Gotleib, The Long Tomorrow by Leigh Brackett, and Dommsday Morning by C.L. Moore. The authors of the article explore the way these four authors employ mythology to make their novels more potent.

Peterson A, Dunworth D. Mythology In Our Midst : A Guide To Cultural References [e-book].

                   Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press; 2004. Available from: eBook Collection

                    (EBSCOhost), Ipswich, MA. Accessed October 20, 2013.

     This eBook is written in a very sectional maner, everything is broken down into an almost list-like format. At the begining is a list of roughly 30 of the most common mythological references. Among these are, Gilgamesh, Loki, The tree of Life, Adam and Eve, and Pygmalion. Then within each of these refrences, the author defines the myth and mentions some modern uses. Sometimes Peterson will use Literature but he will also mention movies. In the Adam and Eve section he mentions the times in books when characters are tempted, is comparable to Eve in ways, and also a modern movie that uses it as a mythological influence is Weird Science.

Potts, Stephen. “The Many Faces of the Hero in Lord of the Rings.” Twentieth Century Literary

                        Criticism. Vol 137. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 4-11. Literature Resources from Gale.

                      Web. 30 Sept. 2013

        This short article takes an in depth look at a contemporary trilogy and focuses on how it was created. Lord of the Rings is a very popular series and this article not only discusses the Mythology Tolkien based his characters on, but also the Mythology he created. This article draws focus on the hero, Frodo, and how he can be interpreted as a character based on the great heroes from other myths.

Pondrom, Cyrena. “The Role of Myth in Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God.”American

          Literature. 58.2 (1996): 181-202. JSTOR. Web. 20 Oct. 2013

    Pondrom argues in this article that most people pay attention to the use of racial issues in the novel,  and not the creative use of mythological elements, that give the novel a whole new life. This novel includes Isis and Osiris and Aphrodite and Hephaestus themes. That is two different culture’s mythologies at play in this work. She argues that these mythological elements when taken into account give the novel entirely new depth.

Rollins, Ronald. “Finn Again: O’Casey Resurrects Celtic Heroes in Red Roses for Me.”Drama

For    Students. Vol. 19. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 52-58. Literature Resources from Gale.Web.

          30 Sept.   2013.

     Rollins’ essay focuses on one play and one culture’s mythology, and what is based on that mythology.This article focuses in on characters in the play and how they really reflect the characters of the myths. This is an essay pulled from a larger journal and since it is only six pages long it is very easy to navigate. It is a well done analysis of this play and its mythological background for “Drama for Students.”

Deviancy, Sensationalism and Brutality Captured in 80’s American Literature

“I Was Born in the U.S.A.”:

Deviancy, Sensationalism and Brutality Captured in 80’s American Literature

A selective annotated bibliography.

            Think the 80’s landscape of America. Think Ronald Reagan. Think Jelly Shoes and Hammer pants and mullets and iconic cartoons. Florescent neon clothing. Michael Jackson prior to his bleach and his infamously fragile snout. To the now-middle aged American population, these memories are probably fond and humbly embarrassing, but more than that, they are layered: layered in the sense that they are also accompanied by not-so-fond memories, hanging somewhat malignantly off the tail of things that rest easier on the brain. The peculiar death of Bob Marley in ’81. The drug culture that flourished in cities—namely the big and bright ones: L.A., San Fran, et cetera. The crime that supplemented this wave of lifestyle of substance. The 50’s-with-a-vengance materialism that swept the nation. It has a blasphemous ring to it, but it’s a sin in itself to not admit the sensationalism that was sex, drugs, and bloody rock & roll that made the era such a bewildering and captivating time to live in.

Like monuments erected to preserve the feats and ideas of the past, literature has sealed the essence of this decade as well as any stone replica. The written word once again delivers an experience that contains the sublime nature of 80’s America, and this selective bibliography intends to provide a variety of perspectives on it. Perhaps the worth of the compilation is weighed in interest, or rather in research fodder for whatever subject or micro-subject that this assembling of information should contain. Of its contents, it offers a myriad of sources that highlight the literary poster-children of the given period and/or supply depth to their controversial nature—namely on the topic of violence. Next to the cited critical essays, there are other more recent sources of scholarly proportions that propose commentaries and explanations for these novels’ controversial themes, or simply elaborate on their general canonical importance in the history of American literature.

This is when you start thinking Cormac McCarthy. Bret Ellis. Jay McInerney. Katherine Dunn. Thomas Harris. It is because of these writers among others that we can once again be reminded of the fond memories and callous ones, and at their expense there are creative testaments that embody them, providing a reflective purpose on an important epoch in the 20^th century. If this brief compendium lives up to its intended purpose, then perhaps more information and more creativity can embellish the present day based off of the effort and observation of those who have acknowledged this era and celebrated its elements.

Berkenkamp, Lauri. “Reading, Writing and Interpreting: Stephen King’s Misery.” The Dark Descent: Essays Defining Stephen King’s Horrorscape. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood, 1992. 203-11. Rpt. in Contemporary Literary Criticism. Vol. 244. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Literature Resources from Gale. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.

Lauri Berkenkamp’s critical essay over Stephen King’s ’87 horror novel, Misery, is essential to the bibliography because it sheds light on the fact that King’s novel can be interpreted as a story elaborating on communication gone wrong between reader and writer. Through the novel’s two primary characters, Berkenkamp illustrates how a sequence of violence and torture unraveled between them due to the nature of such reactions unto products of the writer’s creation. In so many words, this essay explains not just the commentary aspect that literature has on the time and place, but how literature can be motivating for more violence to occur. While Misery takes this concept to the extremes, it’s crucial to recognize this possibility, especially when one considers the domino effect instigated by Ellis’s American Psycho.

Hislop, Andrew. “The Wild Bunch.” Times Literary Supplement 4490 (21 Apr. 1989): 436. Rpt.   in Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Jeffrey W. Hunter. Vol. 204. Detroit: Gale,  2005. Literature Resource Center. Web. 1 Oct. 2013.

Andrew Hislop’s critical essay addresses the nature of Cormac McCarthy’s theme of violence. He argues that McCarthy examines the unnecessary brutalities during the era of westward expansion in America to accentuate the overall meaninglessness of violence in general. By this he visually demonstrates the extents of greed to subliminally pull readers into a scenic view of American history that isn’t so pretty once you get down to its core—“hollow as a used artillery shell.” This argument is crucial in the sense that it sheds light and spreads scholarly grounds on the impetus of meaning in literature, or, importantly, lack thereof.

Jefferson, Faye. “Cultural/Familial Estrangement: Self-Exile and Self-Destruction in Jay McInerney’s Novels.” The Literature of Emigration and Exile. N.p.: Texas Tech UP, 1992. 115-30. Rpt. in Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Jeffrey W. Hunter and Deborah A. Schmitt. Vol. 112. Detroit: Gale Group, 1999. Literature Resources from Gale. Web. 17 Oct. 2013.

Faye Jefferson, in her brief critical essay over Jay McInerney’s works, addresses the author’s most renowned second-person perspective novel, Bright Lights, Big City. She addresses the character’s cocaine and club-hopping habits that are ultimately just a form of self-harm. She references several points in the novel where the protagonist reflects upon his literary and career ambitions that are drowning in his own lifestyle. She acknowledges that while the ending is hopeful, the theme of the novel suggests a cycle that renders the main character a lost cause. This source’s importance lays in the indirect form of violence that Jefferson proves as eminent: subtle violence towards the self.

Kowalewski, Michael. Deadly Musings: Violence and Verbal Form in American Fiction. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press, 1993. Print.

Michael Kowalewski, in his scholarly book, Deadly Musings: Violence and Verbal Form in American Fiction, gives a professional definition to literary violence and similar themes. He describes the relevance that acts of violence have in literature, describing in his introduction the variety of implications that it can suggest: dominance, man vs. man conflict, futile resolution, et cetera. To elaborate on the potential violence has, he goes into depth with a number of authors after the turn of the 20^th century. This source serves to back up the prospective merit that the theme of violence has in the literary world.

Levey, Nick. “Crisis and Control in Don DeLillo’s White Noise.” The Explicator. 71.1 (2013): 11-13. Academic OneFile. Web. 17 Oct. 2013.

Nick Levey’s article that appeared in The Explicator delves into Don DeLillo’s breakthrough novel, White Noise. It illustrates the relevance the ’85 novel has to its time period, harboring the themes of extensive consumerism, saturation of media, underground conspiracies, the disintegration and reintegration of the American family, disasters caused by the human race, and the potentially regenerative nature of human violence. Levey then concludes that it was the presence of these themes that finally equivocated in success for DeLillo, because of the obvious appeal it had to people who felt identical in the day and age.

Mookerjee, Robin. Transgressive Fiction: The New Satiric Tradition. 2013. Print.

Robin Mookerjee’s Transgressive Fiction: The New Satiric Tradition is his scholarly endeavor to bring a number of contemporary authors to justice, authors that have been previously put down by critics as “just crass opportunists.” Mookerjee covers authors that are not only pertinent to the sex, drugs, and violence pattern (which in itself is crucial to Mookerjee’s study), but he namely covers authors a few authors that are important to the decade as well as this compendium: Bret Easton Ellis and Kathy Acker. By comparing these authors with ones from previous or later decades, and simply by possessing a professional view on literary violence and mischief, his presence in the study of this topic is central.

Nolan, Amy. “‘A New Myth To Live By’”: The Graphic Vision Of Kathy Acker.” Critique 53.3  (2012): 201-213. Humanities Full Text (H.W. Wilson). Web. 24 Oct. 2013.

Amy Nolan’s critical essay over Kathy Acker serves in this bib for her attempt at literarily justifying the excess of controversy leaden in Acker’s most recognized work, Blood and Guts in High School. Nolan outlines Acker’s novel and its controversial points: pornographic incest, descriptive violence and conceptual violence [e.g. abortion scenes, rape, etc], and drug use, justifying the novel as a “feminist statement” that has leaped over from the seventies into the eighties (its time of publication). Nolan describes that the revulsion the novel has received isn’t at all deserved once scrutinized, where it offers a professional take on the “Oedipal-frame narrative,” and a treks into the “‘no-man’s land of the subconscious.’”

Price, David W. “Bakhtinian Prosaics, Grotesque Realism, and The Question Of The Carnivalesque in Bret Easton Ellis’s American Psycho.” Southern Humanities Review 32.4 (1998): 321-346. Humanities Full Text (H.W. Wilson). Web. 17 Oct. 2013.

While American Psycho was published in ’91, the setting and themes of the novel supply enough relevance for its presence in this compilation. David W. Price covers this relevance thoroughly in his article featured in Southern Humanities Review. Price compares Ellis’s disreputable novel to Mikhail Bakhtin, and uses this analogy to explain American Psycho’s importance as a “blistering critique of the 1980’s.” Price then describes through the length of his article, using three focal points, that further analysis of this work can provide sufficient political and cultural prophecies concerning the development of inner city violence merged with excessive consumerism.

Runyon, Randolph P. “Cathedral.” Reading Raymond Carver, Syracuse University Press. 1992: 137-85. Rpt. in Contemporary Literary Criticism Select. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Literature Resources from Gale. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.

Randolph P. Runyon critiques Raymond Carver’s ’83 short story collection, Cathedral, by initially recognizing the trend of alcoholism throughout. Scrutinizing “Chef’s House,” “Vitamins,” and “Where I’m Coming From,” among a few others, Runyon makes the conclusive statement that the anthology in itself celebrates (or anti-celebrates) a form of violence in which itself, making note of the many destructive features present in the stories, from the image of the Vietnamese ear in “Vitamins” to the obliteration of the marriage in “Where I’m Coming From.”

Schmid, David. “The Kindest Cut of All: Adapting Thomas Harris’s Hannibal.” Literature-Film Quarterly 35.1 (2007): 389. Literature Resources from Gale. Web. 17 Oct. 2013.

This article by David Schmid tackles the serial killer novelist turned modern drama sensation: Thomas Harris, responsible for the character icon, Hannibal. Schmid evaluates Harris’s 1981 Red Dragon, 1988 Silence of the Lambs, as well as 1991 Hannibal, and makes critical remarks towards what the success of Hannibal the character says about the culture of 80’s America onward. He evaluates the character’s infamous sense of class and etiquette combined with the mercilessness and brutality of his appetite appeals to the “distinguished taste of the American culture,” and has an identical effect on American sensations “…as Manson did to the rebels of excessive consumerism and materialistic peace.”

Sahlin, Nicki. “‘But This Road Doesn’t Go Anywhere’: The Existential Dilemma in Less Than Zero.” Critique 33.1 (Fall 1991): 23-42. Rpt. in Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Jeffrey W. Hunter and Timothy J. White. Vol. 117. Detroit: Gale Group, 1999. Literature Resource Center. Web. 1 Oct. 2013.

In Nicki Sahlin’s critical essay, she scrutinizes Bret Easton Ellis’s work, Less Than Zero. The scholar attends to the many spontaneous acts of crudeness and violence that occur within the novel and evaluates the muffled responses to these acts by the characters. She commentates on their behavior, and makes claims that they hardly give an appropriate reaction considering that they are, “so numbed with the existential culture that they aren’t even rightly disturbed.” This professional observation proves vital to the subject of violence in 80’s literature, particularly given that included is a modest amount of focus on the iconic drug culture prevalent in the decade, and the author applies this to assumptions made about the morals of the era.

Toutonghi, Pauls Harijs. “Toni Morrison’s Beloved.” American Writers Classics. Ed. Jay Parini. Vol. 1. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 2003. 19-33. Literature Resources from Gale. Web. 24 Oct. 2013.

Pauls Harijs Touronghi writes of the widely renowned and scrutinized Toni Morrison novel, Beloved in his critical essay regarding spiritual violence ever-so-present in the text. Touronghi centers on the vengeance of the ghost of Seethe’s child, making a series of points where the hack-saw related death comes back to shake her in spells of supernatural disturbances. He makes relevance of this in the sense that “violence resonates,” and it has a particular habit of carrying across time, as Toni Morrison’s novel does, ferrying the pain of a harsh and discriminate era into 1980’s America. The reception of the novel speaks for itself: this idea is still tragically appropriate and more than effective.

Worthington, Marjorie. “The Texts of Tech: Technology and Authorial Control in Geek Love and Galatea 2.2.” Journal of Narrative Theory 39.1 (Winter 2009): 109-133. Rpt.           in Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Jeffrey W. Hunter. Vol. 292. Detroit: Gale, 2010. Literature Resource Center. Web. 1 Oct. 2013.

This critical essay by Marjorie Worthington goes over the controversial and generally bizarre elements of Katherine Dunn’s Geek Love. Worthington addresses a number of the novel’s motifs, ranging from misconfiguration for amusement to cultist sensationalism that branches out from a glutton for a completion. She says that the root for these themes lies in Dunn’s observation that the American population was experiencing a flood of symbolic wealth. “Materialistic notions were on the high and this instilled a longing in people for a more genuine existence.” This idea anchors Worthington into making sense of the strange characters with stranger characteristics that maintain a worth in the literary time frame.