Dissertation

A Transmutation of the Genre: Patrick Rothfuss' Kingkiller Chronicle in Relation to Tolkien and Martin in Secondary World Fantasy

Dellinger, William

2020

Overview

Secondary World Fantasy has changed significantly since the foundational work of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and the rising popularity of such works necessitates a critical analysis. Lacking the necessary framework and categorization to discuss high fantasy in the proper context, I have coined the terms traditional, post-traditional, and metatraditional to refer to Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, and Patrick Rothfuss’ The Kingkiller Chronicle, respectively. Throughout this thesis, these three works will highlight the trajectory of this immersive fantasy genre, as well as the difficulties of categorizing it according to more mainstream movements. Particularly, this thesis will focus on Rothfuss’ work as an example of a new movement in the genre that oscillates between the traditional and post-traditional through a series of textual, character-driven acknowledgments of traditional fantasy conventions and a rejection of post-traditional fantasy conventions. Each section of this thesis seeks to ground the discourse in textual examples of the construction of traditional conventions, the post-traditional subversion of traditional conventions, and the synthesis that Rothfuss draws from to create his metatraditional text. This thesis also explores the role of stories within The Kingkiller Chronicle and how they assist in addressing the meta concepts present in the movement, celebrating traditional conventions and allowing the characters to recognize and discuss elements such as archetypal characters, traditional plot progression, and broader thematic elements. Focusing tightly on the respective works and their use of magic systems, divine prophecy, archetypes, and narrative tools, by the end of this thesis, this delineation will frame the discussion within the genre in terms of the genre itself, instead of in relation to other genres of literature.

• Publisher: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
• Subject: American literature / British & Irish literature / British and Irish literature / Butcher, Jim (1971- ) / Conventions / English literature / Genre / Heroism & heroes / History / Lewis, C S (1898-1963) / Literature / Martin, George R R / Modernism / Mythology / Narrative theme / Postmodernism / Power / Pratchett, Terry / Scholarships & fellowships / Social criticism & satire / Tolkien, John Ronald Reuel (1892-1973) / War / Williams, Charles
• ISBN: 9798519185271