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function of biblical allusion in "Jude the Obscure"

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Date Issued:
1988
Summary:
Thomas Hardy's novels reflect a tradition important to authors of Victorian fiction, that of the use of allusion to major works of literature in order to enhance the appeal of their own work. In Jude the Obscure references are made to mythology, the English Romantics, Shakespeare, and, especially, to the Bible. Jude is Hardy's final novel, and the use of Biblical analogy separates it from all the others. In it Hardy traces the odyssey of Jude, showing that at important turning points in his life Biblical references serve as guideposts marking his direction. The device acts to identify Jude with the same Judeo-Christian heritage that provides the foundation on which Victorian society rests; however, the Victorians do not acknowledge him as one of their own. Through Biblical allusion Hardy shows that Jude is a rightful heir, but the legacy is denied him as he becomes instead that society's victim.
Title: The function of biblical allusion in "Jude the Obscure".
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Name(s): Porta, Janet R.
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Coyle, William, Thesis advisor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 1988
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 79 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Thomas Hardy's novels reflect a tradition important to authors of Victorian fiction, that of the use of allusion to major works of literature in order to enhance the appeal of their own work. In Jude the Obscure references are made to mythology, the English Romantics, Shakespeare, and, especially, to the Bible. Jude is Hardy's final novel, and the use of Biblical analogy separates it from all the others. In it Hardy traces the odyssey of Jude, showing that at important turning points in his life Biblical references serve as guideposts marking his direction. The device acts to identify Jude with the same Judeo-Christian heritage that provides the foundation on which Victorian society rests; however, the Victorians do not acknowledge him as one of their own. Through Biblical allusion Hardy shows that Jude is a rightful heir, but the legacy is denied him as he becomes instead that society's victim.
Identifier: 14449 (digitool), FADT14449 (IID), fau:11249 (fedora)
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1988.
Subject(s): Hardy, Thomas,--1840-1928--Jude the obscure
Bible--In literature
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14449
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.