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The Weight of Ink: Female Protagonists in the Face of Oppression
Freiová, Kristina ; Topolovská, Tereza (advisor) ; Higgins, Bernadette (referee)
This thesis explores the connection between the two protagonists of a historical novel The Weight of Ink (2017) by a contemporary American author, Rachel Kadish. The main aim is to describe and interpret the nature of this link. Since the two protagonists are separated by more than three hundred years of historical development, their destinies seem dissimilar at first glance. However, deeper investigation reveals the commonality of various forms of social repression, which affect all aspects of both their lives. It is for this reason that the Practical Part compares the individual cases of their confinement, employing the concept of a psychologist Iris Marion Young named Five Faces of Oppression, which describes the possible manifestations of restraint in society. The thesis also ponders how and to what extent the two protagonists are influenced by social context and specifically religion, in this case Judaism, which is bound to their destinies. Last but not least, the thesis, as well as the novel itself, stresses how the protagonists cope with their situation through the means of self- realization, which, despite being directly rejected or substantially curtailed by society, serves as a means of personal growth, autonomy and eventually freedom. KEYWORDS The Weight of Ink, Rachel Kadish,...
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Development of adolescent identity in selected novels by John Green
Tomanová, Michaela ; Topolovská, Tereza (advisor) ; Chalupský, Petr (referee)
The American YA novelist John Green frequently centres his books on characters that have been struck by the death of somebody close to them, by a traumatic event, or suffer from debilitating illness. Since adolescence is an important and impressionable period of life during which one's identity is firmly established for the first time, such experiences inevitably have a lasting impact on the person and their sense of self. This diploma thesis analyses how the teenage heroes in two selected works by Green - The Fault in Our Stars (2012) and Looking for Alaska (2005) - construe their identity when simultaneously facing death and/or trauma. The analysis takes as its foundation the theories of (inter)subjectivity and of the Other by literary critics Robyn McCallum and Karen Coats, respectively, and is complemented by the outline of psychological development from James E. Marcia. Interpersonal relationships are at the crux of a stable adult identity, and are essential for successful integration into wider society. If these are missing, the individual is marginalised as a threat to others, possibly dying as a consequence of their status. KEY WORDS John Green, young-adult literature, adolescence, maturation, identity, the Other, death, grief, terminal illness, The Fault in Our Stars, Looking for Alaska
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Shakespearean Intertextuality in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World
Fišerová, Hana ; Chalupský, Petr (advisor) ; Topolovská, Tereza (referee)
The aim of this thesis is to present intertextuality as a literary device and to offer a description of its function based on the ideas of the most prominent theorists, who are concerned with this very topic. The thesis describes the employment of intertextuality in literature and its influence on reader's interpretation of a text. The practical part analyses the use of intertextuality in Aldous Huxley's novel Brave New World, concentrating in particular on chosen theatre plays by William Shakespeare. Key Words: intertextuality, allusion, interconnection, fiction, modernism Abstrakt Cílem této práce je představit intertextovost jakožto literární prostředek a vylíčit její funkci na základě idejí a myšlenek nejvýznamnějších teoretiků, kteří se tímto tématem zabývají. Práce popisuje funkci intertextovosti v literatuře a její vliv na čtenářovu interpretaci textu. Praktická část zkoumá užití intertextovosti v díle Aldouse Huxleyho Konec civilizace, zabývajíc se konkrétně vybranými divadelními hrami Williama Shakespeara. Klíčová slova: intertextovost, aluze, propojení, fikce, modernismus
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The notion of American patriotism as deployed in the US political arena
Mukařovský, David ; Ženíšek, Jakub (advisor) ; Topolovská, Tereza (referee)
This thesis aims to explore the rich meaning of patriotism in the US politics. The theoretical part focuses on the facets of patriotism specific to the USA-American exceptionalism and the Pledge of Allegiance-and on types of patriotism in general. The practical part is devoted to delineating the notions of patriotism of three prominent American politicians among whom there are significant ideological differences: President Donald Trump, late Senator John McCain, and former President Barack Obama. Their opinions on patriotism are uncovered mostly by analyzing their speeches, but in some cases also by reading their tweets, listening to interviews with them, and reading articles about them. My hypothesis was that when we compare their views of patriotism, we will find that not all three men advance a similar kind of patriotism. I believe this hypothesis to be definitively confirmed in the conclusion where the final comparison highlights many differences, including essential ones, between the patriotism of Trump and that of the other two politicians. Keywords: American patriotism, American exceptionalism, Donald Trump, John McCain, Barack Obama
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Bullying and its impacts in Margaret Atwood's Cat's Eye
Hemžalová, Simona ; Topolovská, Tereza (advisor) ; Chalupský, Petr (referee)
This bachelor thesis focuses on the subject of bullying in Margaret Atwood's Cat's Eye (1988). The aim of the thesis is to inquire into specific types and effects of bullying predominantly occurring in groups of girls with its long-term consequences on the individuals and compare it with the depiction of bullying in the novel Cat's Eye. Besides the characteristic features of bullying and its consequences, the theoretical part of the thesis suggests two coping strategies, the Freudian defence mechanisms, and Art therapy, which concentrates on the core of the problem and simultaneously helps the client to express their feelings through the creative activity. The practical part then examines how the findings in the theoretical part correspond to the illustration of bullying in the novel Cat's Eye. To be more precise, it focuses on the protagonists of the story, who are the victims of bullying, and analyses how the characters are trying to overcome the trauma via the therapeutic strategies mentioned. That aside, the thesis explores how bullying falls into the whole literary creation of Margaret Atwood and whether it can be considered a typical topic, or its variation, with which she deals with in her novels.
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The Nature of Motherhood in the Works of Buchi Emecheta
Mironenko, Ekaterina ; Topolovská, Tereza (advisor) ; Higgins, Bernadette (referee)
The purpose of this diploma thesis is to analyze the experience of motherhood in the selected works of the female Nigerian author, Buchi Emecheta. The books chosen for the analysis include "Second-Class Citizen" and "The Joys of Motherhood". The theoretical part introduces the writer and gives an insight to the history, culture, and the position of women in Nigeria. This is followed by a discussion of universal topics reflecting the issues of motherhood: the influence of patriarchy on the institution of motherhood, the pressure to be a perfect mother, the preference for boys, and the parent-child relationship. The practical analysis reveals that the chosen topics appear problematic in the motherhood experience of the main protagonists from the selected books. By discussing the mentioned topics, the writer intends to improve the position of women in Nigeria through the strong moral teachings in her works.
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