Date of Award

Spring 5-1-1972

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

English

First Advisor

Carl von Kleist

Second Advisor

D. Gene Englad

Third Advisor

Raymond A. Miller

Abstract

Donald Ba.rthelme (1933- ) has been writing significant, experimental fiction for over a decade now. Other than numerous magazine publications, he has four longer published works, ~ Ba.ck, Dr. Caligari (1964)1 ~ White (1967), Unspeakable Practices, Unna. tural ~ ( 1968) J am City Life ( 1970) J and a children's book, The Slightly Irregular Fire Engine .2£ the Hithering Thithering Djinn (1971). City Life was selected by The New York Times as one of the twelve outstaming books of 1970, am The Slightly Irregular Fire Engine was the 1971 National Book Awards winner for the children's book prize. Yet, his writing techniques have been in general unscrutinized, and this thesis would be one of primary importance for the study of this young American author. This study clarified the influences which have produced Ba.rthelme's literature of fabulationJ described the characteristics of his fictional form and content, and appraised the possible significance of Ba.rthelme's fabulation. These purposes subsequently divided this thesis into three chapters, 1) an explanation of the twentieth-century influences which have initiated another approach to literature, 2) a presentation of the fictional characteristics which allowed Ba.rthelme's writings to broaden the possibilities of literature, and 3) an evaluation of the significance of Ba.rthelme's fabulation for the literature of the twentieth century.

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