Curiouser and curiouser : Margaret Mahy's novels for adolescents : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy at Massey University

dc.contributor.authorHensman, Stephen Trevor
dc.date.accessioned2017-09-22T03:26:28Z
dc.date.available2017-09-22T03:26:28Z
dc.date.issued1996
dc.description.abstractThis thesis is a study of the interconnections between Margaret Mahy's novels for adolescents. It argues that whilst interconnected networks infuse the oeuvre with appropriate material for adolescents, some textual elements exceed the limitations of all but the most sophisticated adolescents. After an introductory chapter, Chapter Two proposes a typology of structure in New Zealand novels for adolescents. It finds that Mahy's novels are archetypes of the hope-inducing structures identifiable in New Zealand novels for adolescents generally. It also finds that Mahy adapts structure to the stage of adolescence she is writing for. Chapter Three discusses the generic content and stylistics in the Mahy oeuvre. It argues that even though the content is eminently appropriate for adolescents, some elements of style are not. Chapter Four argues that knowledge of the various networks enriches response, guides interpretation and highlights Mahy's ability to pitch content at an appropriate level for adolescence, but again argues that some subtleties of style are too sophisticated for an adolescent audience. Chapter Five argues that understanding of each novel is expanded by identifying points which imply one reader at the expense of others. Hence, this thesis concludes that meaning and response multiply in Mahy's texts in proportion to (1) knowledge of Mahy's unique interconnecting textual elements and (2) the number of Mahy's implied readers inhering in the actual reader.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10179/11961
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherMassey Universityen_US
dc.rightsThe Authoren_US
dc.subjectMahy, Margareten_US
dc.subjectCriticism and interpretationen_US
dc.titleCuriouser and curiouser : Margaret Mahy's novels for adolescents : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy at Massey Universityen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
massey.contributor.authorHensman, Stephen Trevor
thesis.degree.disciplineHumanitiesen_US
thesis.degree.grantorMassey Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Philosophy (M. Phil.)en_US
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