Degree Name
MA (Master of Arts)
Program
English
Date of Award
5-2006
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Mark Holland
Committee Members
Darryl E. Haley, Thomas H. Crofts
Abstract
The inability of language to convey complete meaning and truth is a central point of address for much post-structuralist literary theory and criticism. When these theories are applied to a first-person narrative structure, whether it is a work of fiction or non-fiction, certain specific incongruities arise. When a narrative seeks to recall certain events, a presupposed reexamination takes place as the narrative unfolds text comes into being. If a narractice is contructed in this way then the intent of the text then is to convey comprehensive meanings or truths of those cataloged experiences. According Deconstructive Theory, it is language's inherent nature to resist ultimate meaning. This focus on the articulation of truth is futile because meaning, like language, is always already in a state of fragmentation. This project explores five individual works from different literary traditions-ranging from the canonical to the relatively obscure. The works exhibit various approaches to articulation; including varying degrees of self-definition, personal fiction, and narrative movement toward inarticulation.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Onstott, Wilson Wright, "Articulation as an Act of Futility: A Deconstructive Exploration of Textual Articulation as It Functions within a First-Person Narrative Structure." (2006). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 2198. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/2198
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.