INFORMATION ABOUT DOCTORAL THESIS
1. Full name of the researcher:Nguyen Phuong Khanh
2. Gender:Female
3. Date of birth:28/03/1982
4. Place of birth:Da Nang City
5. Decision on recognition of PhD student No.:3676/QD-SDH, dated October 28, 2009 of the Director of Hanoi National University
6. Changes in the training process:Are not
7. Thesis topic name:The Magic in Toni Morrison's Novels
8. Major:North American LiteratureCode:62.22.30.20
9. Scientific instructor:Assoc.Prof.Dr. Dang Anh Dao
10. Summary of new results of the thesis:
- The thesis explores more deeply and comprehensively the most unique aspects of the writing style of writer Toni Morrison. We bring new approaches (from the perspective of mystical literature) to the writer's works that have not yet been translated and studied much in Vietnam.
-The magicexpressed first of all in a story rich in mythical colors built on a historical social realism background with strong political significance. The thesis analyzed 3 typical types of fantasy plots:Original Legend,Quest for the Holy GrailandCycle myth, associated with prominent motifs:Death and Rebirth,Sacrifice and Redemption, coupleMother and Daughter. These are “transformed archetypes”, the projection of “magical” life archetypes onto magical novel thinking, the expression of the unconscious and life itself beyond the scope of perception.
- Associated with the plot and the magical motifs is a system of characters that blends historical contours with the break of realistic characteristics in the character building style. The thesis has examined and analyzed the magical aspects in the character image. Firstly,fantasy character, manifested in two forms: ghosts that are sometimes invisible and sometimes visible, full of hatred, and ghost characters that are reincarnated as humans. The second isbinary character, creating interwoven real and virtual expressions as well as promoting the events of the story in a mystical direction, a kind of mystical - psychological, in our opinion, a writing style typical of Toni Morrison's style. Third is"magical" character– have the power of prophecy, healing, performing cleansing and resurrection rituals. They have a vague background and a magical appearance, but have the ability to guide and assist the main character on the “adventure” path of discovering the roots, finding the identity for the existence of themselves and the community.
- In order to discover a unique experimental feature of Toni Morrison's pen in terms of magical discourse, the thesis examines the narrator's discourse in the following aspects:real-virtual discourse(based on the statements of the first-person narrator as a mystical/mysterious character and predictive, prophetic statements);circular discourse(from the repetitive nature of discourses on multiple levels) andmusical discourse(The discourse is strongly influenced by Jazz and the integration of many African-American folk songs and music as a way of storytelling – this point we consider the most interesting feature in Toni Morrison's writing style).
- The thesis builds a more specific and complete concept of the concept.The magic, aiming to affirm the existence and development trend of modern fantasy literature. Through examining the expression and aesthetic value of fantasy writing style in a typical literary phenomenon - writer Toni Morrison, the thesis contributes some results to the study of literature using modern theory.
11. Practical application (if any):
- Compile reference materials and teaching materials for American literature for students
12. Further research directions (if any):
- Expand your understanding of Toni Morrison's entire artistic world (a complete survey of the writer's works).
- Compare the magical characteristics in Toni Morrison's writing style with many other writers who also write in a magical direction.
13. Published works related to the thesis (list works in chronological order):
1. Nguyen Phuong Khanh (2008), “Cyclical structure in novelsPampersToni Morrison's”, MagazineScience & Technology, University of Danang(5), pp.96-105.
2. Nguyen Phuong Khanh (2010), “Music as structure and symbol in novelsPampersby Toni Morrison”,Borders - Research, Criticism, Literature Publishing House, pp.9-22.
3. Nguyen Phuong Khanh (2012), “Fragmented time in novelsPampersToni Morrison's”, YearbookNational Conference on Young Cadres of National Pedagogical Universities, Hue University Publishing House, pp.446-454.
4. Nguyen Phuong Khanh (2012), “On the conceptOriginal Legendand the model of the journey of the legendary hero in the novelSong of SolomonToni Morrison's”, MagazineForeign literature(5), pp.94-115.
5. Nguyen Phuong Khanh (2012),Toni Morrison and the novel,Literature Publishing House.
6. Nguyen Phuong Khanh (2013), “The magical and intertextual in novelsPampersandJazzToni Morrison”, Proceedings of the National ConferencePostmodernism – Theory and Practice, Hanoi National University of Education Publishing House, pp.223-234.
7. Nguyen Phuong Khanh (2013), “Plot and legendary motifs in Toni Morrison's novels”, ProceedingsNational Conference on Young Cadres of National Pedagogical Universities, Da Nang Publishing House, pp.328-333.
8. Nguyen Phuong Khanh (2013), “Sethe and Evidence”Hysteria –NovelPampers(Toni Morrison) from a Psychoanalytic Perspective”,Borderline 2 - research, criticism, Da Nang Publishing House, pp.229-358.
9. Nguyen Phuong Khanh (2015), “Magical characters in Toni Morrison's novels”, MagazineScience & Education,University of Education, University of Danang (15), pp.45-50.
INFORMATION ON DOCTORAL THESIS
1. Full name: Nguyen Phuong Khanh 2. Sex:Female
3. Date of birth:March 28th, 19824. Place of birth:Danang City – Vietnam
5. Admission decision number:3676/QD-SDHDated:October 28th, 2009 by the President of Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
6. Changes in academic process:No
7. Official thesis title:The magical in Toni Morrison's novels
8. Major:North American Literature9. Code:62.22.30.20
10. Supervisors:Prof. DANG ANH DAO
11. Summary of a new findings of the thesis:
- The Thesis intensively and comprehensively examines the best of Toni Morrison's writing style. We adopt brand-new approaches (from the magical literature aspect) to Morrison's works which are still not translated and widely studied in Vietnam.
- First of all,themagicalis expressed in a storyline heavily inspired by mythologies, built upon the foundation of the magical realism along with political aspects. The thesis reviews three typical kinds of magicalplotsThe Monomyth, the Quest for the Holy Grail and Mythical Cycle,which follows dominant motifs like:DeathandRessurrection, SacrificeandRedemption, MotherandDaughter.These are 'transformed archetypes', the reflections of reality's “mysteries” upon literature's magical way of thinking, which indicates the unconscious and the unknown boundaries of life itself.
- Bound to the story and the magical motif are characters conveying both history and the breaking-away from reality in the way of creating a character. This thesis examines and analyzes magical aspects of each character. The first aspect is themagic existent,expressed in two forms: the invisible lurking spectres filled with anger and menace, and the phantoms that reborn into a human being. The second one is thedichotomythat creates imaginary yet realistic symbols as well as steers the events of the story toward a more fantasy road; this is but a type of magical – drama, which we consider to be Toni Morrison's signature writing style. The third aspect is the character type withmagic power– one with abilities of prophesying, medication, and conducting purify and ressurrection rituals. They have ambiguous identities yet are able to guide and support the protagonists during the 'adventure' to discover one's or society's roots and origins.
- To discover Tony Morrison's unique style in terms of using magical discourse, the thesis examines story-telling discourses in the following criteria:realistic – imaginary discourse(based on the first-person narrator, who is a fantasy/ mystical character with prophetic and prescient speeches);circular discourse(the repetition of discourse on various scales) andmusical discourse(Jazz-influenced discourse and the inclusion of folk songs from the African American community to convey a story – which we consider to be the most interesting trait of Toni Morrison's writing style).
- The thesis constructs an unambiguous and complete idea ofthe magical, aiming to confirm the existence and development trend of the modern magical literature. Through the analysis of features and values of typical literature phenomenon Toni Morrison's magical style, the thesis provides further findings for literature researchs using modern theories.
12. Practical applicability, if any:
- The result is a sourcebook of material, information, and ideas on teaching and research Toni Morrison's novels to undergraduates and graduate students as well.
13. Further research directions, if any:
- Further examine the whole literature world of Toni Morrison (study all her works)
- Compare Toni Morrison's magical style to other authors in the same magical genre.
14. Thesis-related publications: (List in chronological order)
1. Nguyen Phuong Khanh (2008), “Circular structure inBelovedof Toni Morrison”, University of DanangJournal of Science and Technology,Vol.5 (28), pp.96-105.
2. Nguyen Phuong Khanh (2010), “Music as the structure and symbols inBelovedof Toni Morrison”,The Boundaries–Research andCriticism, Literature Publishing House, pp.9-22.
3. Nguyen Phuong Khanh (2012), “Fragmented Time inBelovedof Toni Morrison”,Journalof The National Conference of Young Lecturers from Universities of Education, Hue University Publishing House, pp.446-454.
4. Nguyen Phuong Khanh(2012), “About term Monomyth and a Pattern of the Myth Hero's Journey inSong of Solomonof Toni Morrison”,JournalofForeign Literature(5), pp.94-115.
5. Nguyen Phuong Khanh (2012),Toni Morrison and the novels,Literature Publishing House.
6. Nguyen Phuong Khanh(2013), “The Magical and Intertextuality inBelovedandJazzof Toni Morrison”,JournalofThe National Conference onPostmodernism –Theory and Practice, Hanoi University of Education Publishing House, pp.223-234.
7. Nguyen Phuong Khanh(2013), “Plot and Mythic Motifs in Toni Morrison's novels”,Journal ofThe National Conference of Young Lecturers from Universities of Education, Danang Publishing House, pp.328-333.
8. Nguyen Phuong Khanh(2013), “Sethe andHysteria –APsychoanalytical Approach toToni Morrison'sBeloved”,The Boundaries–ResearchandCriticism, Vol.2, Danang Publishing House, pp.229-358.
9. Nguyen Phuong Khanh (2015), “Magic characters inToni Morrison's novels”,Journal ofScience and Education- The University of Danang- University of Education (15), pp.45-50.
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