University of Denver Digital Commons @ DU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 6-1-2015 Undead Empire: How Folklore Animates the Human Corpse in Nineteenth-Century British Literature Charles Hoge University of Denver Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd Part of the Literature in English, British Isles Commons Recommended Citation Hoge, Charles, "Undead Empire: How Folklore Animates the Human Corpse in Nineteenth-Century British Literature" (2015). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 292. https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/292 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at Digital Commons @ DU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ DU. For more information, please contact
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[email protected]. “Undead Empire: How Folklore Animates the Human Corpse in Nineteenth-Century British Literature” A Dissertation Presented to The Faculty of Arts and Humanities University of Denver In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy By Charles Hoge June 2015 Advisor: Dr. Eleanor McNees Author: Charles Hoge Title: “Undead Empire: How Folklore Animates the Human Corpse in Nineteenth- Century British Literature” Advisor: Dr. Eleanor McNees Degree Date: June 2015 ABSTRACT This dissertation explores representations of the human corpse in nineteenth- century British literature and ephemeral culture as a dynamic, multidirectional vehicle used by writers and readers to help articulate emerging anxieties that were complicating the very idea of death. Using cultural criticism as its primary critical heuristic filter, this project analyzes how the lingering influence of folklore animates the human corpses that populate canonical and extra-canonical nineteenth-century British literature.