g Standing Stone h Part One: A Novel g Stepping Stones To Standing Stone h Part Two: Critical Commentary for Standing Stone – A Novel Jan M. G. Nerenberg 2 g Table of Contents h Title Page 1 Table of Contents: Part One of Two 3 Declarations 7 Summary Sheet 9 Acknowledgements 11 Standing Stone: A Novel 13 Prologue 15 1-Today-Astoria, Oregon ~ Nightmare 19 2-October's End-Astoria, Oregon ~ Assignment 23 3-October-Astoria, Oregon ~ Fly Away 29 4-1457-York, England ~ Kaleb Kahrl Artur 37 5-1463-York, England ~ Dare 41 6-1863/66-Little Rollright, England ~ Fiona Middleton 45 7-1867-Little Rollright, England ~ Child No More 51 8-Today-Aberystwyth, Wales - Settling In 55 9-Today-Aberystwyth, Wales ~ Warning 59 10-1474-York, England ~ Fourth Son 63 11-1482/85-York, England ~ Opportunity 65 12-Today-Chipping Norton, England ~ Changing Plans 71 13-1871-Long Compton, England ~ Whispering Stones Festival 83 14-Today-Long Compton, England ~ For Luck 87 15-1485-Knaresborough, England ~ Tryst 93 3 16-1871-Long Compton, England ~ Through the Looking Glass 97 17-Today-Chipping Norton, England ~ Mrs Rowling 109 18-Today-Chipping Norton, England ~ Amulet 115 19-Today-Rollright Stones, England ~ Samhain 119 20-1485-Knaresborough, England ~ Gaming 125 21-1485-Knaresborough, England ~ Plans Gone Awry 131 22-1871-Rollright, England ~ Nursery Rhyme 135 23-Today-Chipping Norton, England ~ Mrs Rowling Revisited 143 24-Today-Aberystwyth/Wales ~ News from Home 149 25-Today-Astoria, Oregon ~ Birth Records 153 26-Today-Astoria, Oregon ~ Bequest 159 27-1485-York, England ~ Journey to York 167 28-1871-Rollright, England ~ Allan Middleton 173 29-Today-Astoria, Oregon ~ Promise Ring 179 30-Today-Astoria, Oregon ~ Plans and Farewell 185 31-Today-Aberystwyth, Wales ~ Return 191 32-1871-Rollright, England ~ Memories in an Elderwood Box 197 33-1485-England ~ Marcus Brown 203 34-Today-Aberystwyth, Wales ~ History Lesson 207 35-Today-Aberystwyth, Wales ~ Luncheon with a Lord 217 36-Today-Aberystwyth/Wales ~ Charlie 223 37-1485-Aberystwyth, Wales ~ Escape 227 38-1485-Wales ~ Murder Most Foul 235 39 -1486-Knaresborough/England ~ A Death and A Birth 241 40-1871-Rollright, England ~ Grimoire 247 4 41-Today-Aberystwyth, Wales ~ Friend or Foe 255 42-Today-Aberystwyth, Wales ~ Palimpsest 265 43-1871-Rollright, England ~ Incident in 1865 271 44-1491-Near Knaresborough, England ~ Seek My Revenge 277 45-1502-Knaresborough/England ~ Ursula 283 46-Today-Aberystwyth, Wales ~The Ring 289 47-1502-York, England ~ The Marriage of Tobias Shipton 293 48-1871-Rollright, England ~ Ritual at the Stones 301 49-Today-Aberystwyth/Wales ~ Threat 311 50-1509-England ~ Prelude to a King 317 51-1509-England ~ The Would-Be-King 323 52-Today-Wales ~ Devil's Bridge 335 53-Today-Aberystwyth, Wales ~ Questions 341 54-1872-Long Compton, England ~ Birth Ritual 345 55-1873-Long Compton, England ~ Treasure 353 56-Today-Long Compton, England ~ 1885 Confession 355 57-Today-Aberystwyth, Wales ~ Brother and Sister Act 361 58-Today ~ England ~ Revelations 371 59-Today ~ Escape 379 60-Today ~ Circle Ceremony 387 61-Today ~ Wisdom 397 62-Today ~ Epilogue 403 5 6 Mandatory Layout of Declaration/Statements Word Count of thesis: .................................. (115K approved by the English Dept.) DECLARATION This work has not previously been accepted in substance for any degree and is not being concurrently submitted in candidature for any degree. Signed ...................................................................... (candidate) Date ........................................................................ STATEMENT 1 This thesis is the result of my own investigations, except where otherwise stated. Where *correction services have been used, the extent and nature of the correction is clearly marked in a footnote(s). Other sources are acknowledged by footnotes giving explicit references. A bibliography is appended. Signed ..................................................................... (candidate) Date ........................................................................ [*this refers to the extent to which the text has been corrected by others] STATEMENT 2 I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for photocopying and for inter-library loan, and for the title and summary to be made available to outside organisations. Signed ..................................................................... (candidate) Date ........................................................................ NB: Candidates on whose behalf a bar on access (hard copy) has been approved by the University should use the following version of Statement 2: I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for photocopying and for inter-library loans after expiry of a bar on access approved by Aberystwyth University. Signed ..................................................................... (candidate) Date ………………………………………………….. 7 8 SUMMARY SHEET: This summary sheet should be completed after you have read the guidance notes. The completed sheet should be submitted by you to your Department/School/Institute at the time of submission of your work and the supporting documentation. Candidate’s Surname/Family Name ……Nerenberg…………………………………. Candidate’s Forenames ………Jan M. G…...………………………………………… Candidate for the Degree of …………PhD……………(PhD, MPhil, LLM(Res) etc.) Academic year the work submitted for examination………2014-15………………….. Full title of thesis …………..Standing Stone: A Novel & …………………………... ……Stepping Stones To Standing Stone: Critical Commentary…… …………………………………………….…………………………………………… Summary: Standing Stone, a novel, and the accompanying commentary, Stepping Stones to Standing Stone, form this thesis. The title, Standing Stone, refers to both the Rollright Stones and the journey to self-actualisation of the American protagonist, Barbara Shaunaky, as she gradually develops inner strength and independence. In seeking to understand the mystery shrouding her birth, Barbara travels through contemporary Wales, back in time to nineteenth century England and earlier still to the fifteenth century and Mother Shipton to whom myth credits the formation of the Rollright Standing Stones. The maid/mother/crone triptych as archetype forms a repeated thread throughout the novel as an ancient choice affects consequence influencing each succeeding time period. The commentary seeks to understand and classify Standing Stone within works of fiction. The nature of story is explored by examining what story is and how Standing Stone is positioned in relation to genre – specifically historic, supernatural, and magical realism as well as classification – particularly Young Adult, Adult and Crossover fiction. In doing so I explore the relation of plot and theme, language, symbols, archetypes, as well as fore- and backshadowing. Standing Stone is analysed by comparing the works of Charles Dickens, Virginia Woolf, J. R. R. Tolkien, J. K. Rowling, Kate Mosse and others. My intent in both Standing Stone and its accompanying analysis, Stepping Stones to Standing Stone, was to understand the concept of story; the classifications of story; and to examine and understand the term ‘Crossover’ in relation to fictive genre literature. 9 10 g Acknowledgements h In spite of the fact that writing is thought to be a solo endeavour, it is replete with many helpful hands. I, therefore, would like to thank the following abbreviated list for helping me complete Standing Stone. To Drs Rosie Dub, Pauline Beard, and Katherine Stansfield – Thank you for your encouraging words, patient mentoring, and for your invaluable advice; the English Department: Julie Roberts and Dr Anka Furlan for their support; Dr Neal Alexander for allowing extra words so that Standing Stone can breathe a bit; and to Joy Cadwallader and the Hugh Owen Library staff, who saved my bacon more than once. Diolch yn fawr to the Welsh Department for clarifying my nearly non-existent Welsh. I would like to express sincere thanks to Uncle Jack, my Cookie cousins, and the staff at the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation for believing in me and funding my dream, which is now a reality. And last but not least for our Wednesday PG group. You know who you are! To my characters, who led me on paths that I did not know and places I had never seen previous to this incredible journey. And mostly to my family - my mom, who gifted me with magic and curiosity; my dad, who taught me the power of words; my children, who encouraged me to dance; and my husband, fy nghariad, who kept saying that he knew I could accomplish this. Thank You 11 12 g Standing Stone h A Novel Jan M. G. Nerenberg Part One of Two 13 14 g Prologue h Barbara stopped. Raised voices filtered through her father’s office door. She could see the door was slightly ajar, but couldn’t believe that her parents were arguing. “I won’t have Barbara repeat… ” Repeat what? Barbara strained to hear but the balance of the sentence was muffled. Her mother must have turned away. Ignoring Lena’s oft spoken words about eavesdroppers never hearing anything good about themselves, Barbara leaned in closer, peeking through the crack until she could see her parents standing across the room near her dad’s desk. “Harve,” her mother said, “I know she’s starting college but she just turned fifteen. She tries too hard to fit in.” Lena paused, “It’s a recipe for disaster and she’s already been through so much.” Why can’t she be happy for me? Barbara felt her temper rising as old doubts began to assail her. She strained to listen. Her father sighed. “I haven’t forgotten her tears and the tantrums after we returned from the UK or the months of therapy that followed. I never thought we’d be a normal family, but we worked through it. At some point, Lena, we’ve got to let her grow up.” UK? When had she ever been abroad? Barbara’s question was swept away by her mother’s outburst. “Harve, how exactly do you expect her to cope? She’ll be with kids who’re five to ten years older than she is.” Lena’s voice quavered, filling with tears. “She’s only fifteen. Think of the temptations she’ll face. I couldn’t bear it if…” Her mother’s words were lost again as Lena covered her face. 15 “Sweetheart, she needs to find a way,” he said.