Form as Problem: Style, Literariness and Translation of High Fantasy Fiction

master's thesis

• Author: Karla Zorčec
• Mentor: Luka Bekavac (mentor)
• Mentor: Vinko Zgaga (komentor)
• Committee member: Vinko Zgaga (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Luka Bekavac (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Kristina Grgić (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of English language and literature); Zagreb
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of Comparative literature); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2021-06-29, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology; Theory and History of Literature
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology; Anglistics

Abstract

The thesis focuses on the question of style in the genre of high fantasy, which has been disregarded as plain or unimportant. It suggests that there is such a thing as literariness, that it is present in high fantasy fiction, and that it is manifested in the tight-knit relationship of form and content. Starting from the definitions of literariness and high fantasy, the formal structure of high fantasy is described with regards to how language is used to present content. An analysis of four high fantasy texts is conducted based on salient stylistic features, and how they reflect on themes, characters, and atmosphere of the novels. It is further suggested that literariness, being a specific relationship between form and content, is revealed in translation. The novels are compared to their Croatian translations with regards to style. It is maintained that while some features can be translated, translation of others significantly affects the overall sense of the novel. It is concluded that, due to the style of high fantasy being layered and purposeful, there is no justification for its being dismissed as poor. Furthermore, due to literariness being a result of the relationship between form and content, high fantasy is not less literary than other genres.

• Keywords: high fantasy; literariness; translation; style; form
• Language: english
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:093547
• Study programme: Title: English Language and Literature (double major); specializations in: Linguistics, Literature and Culture, Translation, TEFL; Course: Translation; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra engleskog jezika i književnosti (magistar/magistra engleskog jezika i književnosti)
• Study programme: Title: Comparative Literature (double major); Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra komparativne književnosti (magistar/magistra komparativne književnosti)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2021-06-30 12:12:47