Show simple item record

Files in this item

FilesSizeFormatView

There are no files associated with this item.

Item metadata

dc.contributor.advisorMacLachlan, Christopher
dc.contributor.authorPazdziora, John Patrick
dc.coverage.spatialvi, 251 p.en_US
dc.date.accessioned2014-02-25T12:09:30Z
dc.date.available2014-02-25T12:09:30Z
dc.date.issued2013
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10023/4460
dc.description.abstractGeorge MacDonald (1824-1905) is one of the most complex and significant Scottish writers of the nineteenth century, especially as a writer of children’s fiction and literary fairy tales. His works, however, have seldom been studied as Scottish literature. This dissertation is the first full-length analysis of his writings for children in their Scottish context, focusing particularly on his use of Scottish folklore in his literary fairy tales. MacDonald wrote in the Scottish Romantic tradition of Robert Burns, Walter Scott, and James Hogg; by close reading his works alongside similar texts by his compatriots, such as Andrew Lang, MacDonald’s own idiosyncratic contribution to that tradition becomes more apparent. His profound knowledge of and appreciation for Christian mysticism is in evidence throughout his work; his use of folklore was directly informed by his exploration of mystical ideas. Hogg is recast as a second Dante, and ‘bogey tales’ become catalysts for spiritual awakening. MacDonald’s fairy tales deal sensitively and profoundly with the theme of child death, a tragedy that held personal significance for him, and can thus be read as his attempt to come to terms with the reality of bereavement by using Scottish folklore to explain it in mystical terms. Traditional figures such as Thomas Rhymer, visionary poets, and doubles appear in his fairy tales as guides and pilgrims out of the material world toward mystical union with the Divine.en_US
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of St Andrews
dc.subject.lccPR4969.P2
dc.subject.lcshMacDonald, George, 1824-1905--Criticism and interpretationen_US
dc.subject.lcshMacDonald, George, 1824-1905--Knowledge--Mysticismen_US
dc.subject.lcshChildren's literature, Scottish--History and criticismen_US
dc.subject.lcshScottish literature--19th century--History and criticismen_US
dc.titleGeorge MacDonald's fairy tales in the Scottish Romantic traditionen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.type.qualificationlevelDoctoralen_US
dc.type.qualificationnamePhD Doctor of Philosophyen_US
dc.publisher.institutionThe University of St Andrewsen_US
dc.rights.embargodate2020-08-08en_US
dc.rights.embargoreasonThesis restricted in accordance with University regulations. Electronic copy restricted until 8th August 2020en_US


This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record