Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Scholars Compass Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 2012 Blues Trope as a Cultural Intersection in Alice Walker's The Temple of My Familiar and Sherman Alexie's Reservation Blues Julia Leuthardt Virginia Commonwealth University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd Part of the English Language and Literature Commons © The Author Downloaded from https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/335 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at VCU Scholars Compass. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of VCU Scholars Compass. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Blues Trope as a Cultural Intersection in Alice Walker's The Temple of My Familiar and Sherman Alexie's Reservation Blues. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts, Department of English, at Virginia Commonwealth University by Julia Leuthardt Director: Dr. Katherine Bassard, Professor of English, College of Humanities and Sciences Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia 05/2012 ii ©Julia Leuthardt 2012 All Rights Reserved iii Acknowledgement This has been a long journey. A journey that I felt was meant for me to travel with all the little bends and forks in its path. But I could not have made it this far, if it had not been for the people I met along the way. My biggest gratitude goes out to my American host family – the Elwell clan – who “adopted” me into their midst; Dennis, thank you for all your support, I would not be here, if it had not been for the generosity you have given me – “Let me tell you, mister.” Thank you Dr.