One Earth, One People

by Oziewicz, Marek

• ISBN13: 9780786431359
• ISBN10: 0786431350
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-02-04
• Publisher: McFarland Publishing

Summary

This work presents the genre of mythopoeic fantasy from a holistic perspective, arguing that this central genre of fantasy literature is largely misunderstood as a result of decades of incomplete and reductionist literary studies. The author asserts that mythopoeic fantasy is not only the most complete literary expression of a worldview based on the existence of supernatural or spiritual powers but that the genre is in a unique position to transform social consciousness with a renewed emphasis on anticipating the future. The author lays out theoretical foundations for his argument in the first four chapters and then demonstrates how the works of fantasy authors Ursula K. LeGuin, Lloyd Alexander, Madeleine L'Engle, and Orson Scott Card exemplify his argument in the remaining four chapters.

Author Biography

Marek Oziewicz is assistant professor of literature and director of the Center for Children's and Young Adult Fiction at the Institute of English Studies, University of Wroclaw in Poland. Donald E. Palumbo is a professor of English at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. He lives in Greenville.C.W. Sullivan III is also in the English department at East Carolina University.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. 1
Introduction	p. 3
The Confusion over Fantasy and the Confusions of the Theoretical Era	p. 13
Reductionist and Holistic Criticisms in a Battle of Worldviews	p. 39
Mythopoeic Fantasy as a Modern Genre	p. 65
Twentieth-Century Rehabilitation of Myth and the Search for a New Story	p. 91
Rediscovering Harmony: Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea Sequence (1964-2001)	p. 118
Bridging the Past with the Future: Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles (1964-1973)	p. 144
Integrating Science and Spirituality: Madeleine L'Engle's Time Quartet (1962-1986)	p. 171
Reconnecting with Nature: Orson Scott Card's Tales of Alvin Maker (1987-2003)	p. 198
Conclusion	p. 225
Chapter Notes	p. 229
Works Cited	p. 245
Index	p. 259
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