The Epilogue of Tennyson's in Memoriam
THE EPILOGUE OF TENNYSON'S IN MEMORIAM: MARRIAGE AS A FORCE OF TRANSFORMATION By LIBBY STOTT YOUNG Bachelor of Arts Oklahoma State University Stillwater, Oklahoma 1980 Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate College of the Oklahoma State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS May, 1984 Thes,;s ,q 8 l,1 '/1:')~ C.e:ir, ;i THE EPILOGUE OF TENNYSON'S MARRIAGE AS A FORCE OF TRANSFORi\fATION Thesis Approved ( 17dAh~ ~. J? eJ_J, Dean of the Graduate College PREFACE This study examines the imagery, scientific metaphor, and literary conventions that Alfred Tennyson uses in the Epilogue of In Memoriam, particularly those concern ing the power of marital love. The study discusses the aspects of disorder and order, death and life, and degen eracy and progress. It explores the connection of love with the force that transforms negative images into posi tive ones. The findings of the study are that Tennyson incor porates several literary conventions to convey that love can indeed transform disorder, death, and degeneracy into order, life, and progress. Tennyson draws upon pagan, Judea-Christian, and Renaissance literature. Scientific metaphor supports the power of love, and the images of the Epilogue incorporate and transform the images of the elegy. The members of my thesis committee have been splendid ly supportive and enlightening. I thank Dr. John Milstead, my advisor, for his example of intellectual vitality. I have been influenced by his example since my freshman year in college; during graduate school I have gained an increas ing appreciation of Dr.
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