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Impact of Emerson's Transcendentalism on the Development of the New Age Movement . An Inquiry into Parallels as a Way to Determine the Influence
Rabochová, Pavlína ; Ženíšek, Jakub (advisor) ; Grmela, Josef (referee)
This thesis provides details about historical background of American Transcendentalism, a theological, philosophical and literary tradition of the first half of the nineteenth century in United States and of New Age religion originating roughly at the turn of the same century and maturing in the 1970's in a form of the New Age movement. The work focuses on the influence of American Transcendentalism as one of the shaping factors, which contributed to the emergence of New Age. The attention is placed primarily on the work of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Through a detailed analysis of selected Emerson's essays parallels are drawn between the beliefs held by the Transcendentalists, mainly Emerson, and general beliefs shared with the New Age community. Following the historical development of both traditions, we discover the point of convergence, namely the New Thought movement originating in the second half of the nineteenth century.
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Naturalism in selected works of John Steinbeck
Bartáková, Irena ; Ženíšek, Jakub (advisor) ; Grmela, Josef (referee)
This diploma thesis deals with naturalistic features in selected works of John Steinbeck. The theoretical part gives a general outline of Naturalism, of its birth and background, as well as of the influences which helped to form this movement. Special attention is paid to the American Naturalism. The practical part is focused on the analysis of two novels by John Steinbeck - The Grapes of Wrath and In Dubious Battle - from the naturalistic point of view. Its aim is to trace naturalistic features in the novels and thus to find evidence that these are typical novels of American Naturalism, in terms of their themes and ways of elaboration.
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Finding of Direct Line in Possibility Dwelling : recurrent social themes in Emily Dickinson's poetry
Borovičková, Hana ; Grmela, Josef (referee) ; Ženíšek, Jakub (advisor)
The thesis explores recurrent social themes in Emily Dickinson's poetry and letters. The main objective of the thesis is to present Emily Dickinson as a poet who was highly interested in social issues. The research is based on the analysis of poems and letters and it is supported by academic works by recognized Emily Dickinson scholars. In particular, the explored areas are "Publication and Role of Poet", "Effects of Civil War on Society", "Religion and Faith", and "Interpersonal Relationships". The research revealed that the areas share common features. On one hand, there is a strong feeling of seclusion from the society presented in Dickinson's poems, but, on the other hand, a reader can appreciate the poems for their brilliant observation and description of the social environment that was surrounding the poet. Dickinson may have been physically isolated from the society, but she understood its problems with clarity that could have been envied by many her contemporaries.
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Success and failure in selected novels of Theodore Dreiser
Novotný, Josef ; Ženíšek, Jakub (referee) ; Grmela, Josef (advisor)
Diplomová práce Success and Failure in Selected Novels of Theodore Dreiser analyzuje vybrané romány Theodora Dreisera s přihlédnutím k motivu vzestupu a pádu. Dále se tato práce věnuje otázce jak se Dreiserova životní zkušenost odráží v jeho díle. Srovnávány jsou romány Sister Carrie, Jennie Gerhardt, The "Genius", An American Tragedy, and The Trilogy of Desire (The Financier, The Titan, The Stoic) s autobiografiemi Dawn a Newspaper Days. Práce odhaluje skutečné předlohy románových postav, zkoumá jejich vzestupy a pády, a zkoumá Dreiserův pohled na svět, zejména jeho sociální postoje. Dochází k závěru, že Dreiser skrze své postavy, vykreslené jako Nietzschovsky sobecká a atavistická stvoření, zpochybňoval tradiční americkou literární koncepci, tradiční morálku i principy demokracie.
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Absence of Nuclear Family and its Consequences in the Work of John Irving
Částková, Tereza ; Grmela, Josef (referee) ; Ženíšek, Jakub (advisor)
This thesis deals with one aspect of the literary work of the American writer John Irving, that is the frequent absence of nuclear family in his novels and its consequences. Irving's heroes grow up very often without either one or both parents and this thesis analyses how the deprivation has influenced them in their lives, especially in their adulthood. The beginning of the thesis presents at first theoretically the consequences of the absence of nuclear family in a human life and its basis is in psychological literature, then it introduces John Irving and his work. The core of the thesis is the analysis of the selected novels where the theme is the most prominent.
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Journey of a Hero: The Treatment of Mythology in the Work of William Butler Yeats
Vošahlíková, Martina ; Ženíšek, Jakub (advisor) ; Grmela, Josef (referee)
The thesis deals primarily with the influence of mythology in the work of William Butler Yeats and particularly focuses on his depiction of the ancient Celtic warrior Cuchulainn. The work briefly introduces the background of Irish mythology and its recordings; however the main interest lies in the interpretation of the myth by the Irish literary movement represented by W.B. Yeats and its contribution to the constitution of Ireland's national identity. The literary portrayal is contrasted with the way the hero Cuchualinn was recalled by the political leaders of the Irish revolution to illustrate the process of national symbols' formation. The challenge of the resulting establishment exemplified by the work of Mary T. Condren in the final part of the thesis points out to the opportunity of intentional selection of such symbols and opens the discussion of art's authority and influence.
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Family tragedy in William Styron's Lie Down in Darkness
Houdková, Veronika ; Ženíšek, Jakub (advisor) ; Grmela, Josef (referee)
This thesis deals with complicated family relationships of the main characters in William Styron's first novel Lie Down in Darkness. The Loftises only seemingly make a happy, perfect family. The main characters are Milton and Helen Loftis and their daughter, Peyton. The aim of the thesis to delve into the complicated family relationships and analyze the characters in order to discover the reasons behind this family's tragedy, namely Peyton's suicide. The thesis also introduces William Styron and his first novel that has unfortunately been virtually ignored in the Czech Republic.
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