English Language and Literature ETDs

Publication Date

Summer 7-22-2019

Abstract

Despite the claim that structuralism has sung its swan song, my research offers new insights in the field of structuralism through archetypal criticism by exploring four female hero mega-archetypes as narrative structures inspired by the Qur’an and the Bible. These scriptural narratives offer tenets, based on narratives and motifs, that, as structural units, create and identify mega-archetypes. This study posits how, rather than being extensions of existing structuralist taxonomies on the male hero monomyth, the female mega-archetypes enrich that monomythical narrative. This work details the structure of the mega-archetypes Zulaikhah (Potiphar’s wife), Sarah and Hagar, the Virgin Mary, and Queen of Sheba,. A number of medieval European romances, specifically Arthurian, aptly illustrate each of these mega-archetypes and confirm how each crosses culture, time, and race.

Degree Name

English

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

English

First Committee Member (Chair)

Anita Obermeier

Second Committee Member

Feroza Jussawalla

Third Committee Member

Leslie Donovan

Fourth Committee Member

Dwight Reynolds

Language

English

Keywords

Motif-Archetype- Mega-archetype- medieval romance

Document Type

Dissertation

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