Committee Chair

Baker, Sybil

Committee Member

Balazs, Thomas; Braggs, Earl

Department

Dept. of English

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

“At the End of Magnolia Street” is a magical realism novel set in a fictional rural town in Middle Tennessee, taking place from the early 1990s through the 2000s. The novel explores the challenges a family can both create and endure together, following the lives of two girls as they struggle through difficult childhoods, living under the shadow of shared family history, and a fatal curse that has haunted the town for generations. The narrative alternates between Noble Williams and Liberty Allen as they struggle with unique abilities, ostracization, loss, guilt, and the need for the love and support of their family while simultaneously trying to escape the restrictions of their roots. My craft essay explores the use of counterpointed characterization to create conflict and tension as well as to develop and progress plot based upon Charles Baxter's essay “Counterpointed Characterization” and exploring works that have influenced my own writing.

Acknowledgments

I want to thank everyone who helped make this dream a reality. Dr. Sarah Einstein, who not only encouraged me to pursue a Master’s degree after I thought my life had fallen apart, but who made sure I would have all the resources available to do so, while also pulling me out of my comfort zone. A very special thanks to Professor Sybil Baker, who has been the most understanding and supportive committee chair anyone could hope for, for her endless patience and clarity, for helping me become the type of writer who could write this piece and importantly for helping me discover Lucy, a character that has helped and led me in more ways than I could have imagined. I’m also grateful to Professor Earl Braggs, who is easily the most calming person I know and whose words always inspire, and for Professor Thomas Balázs, who always makes sure fantasy writers have a voice at UTC.

Degree

M. A.; A thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Arts.

Date

8-2019

Subject

Creative writing -- Fiction; Magical realism (Literature); Fantasy fiction, American

Keyword

English; Counterpointed characterization; Creative writing; Magical realism; Southern magical realism

Document Type

Masters theses

DCMI Type

Text

Extent

68 leaves

Language

English

Rights

https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/

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