Date of Graduation
Winter 2025
Degree
Master of Arts in English
Department
English
Committee Chair
Michael G. Czyzniejewski
Abstract
The following thesis includes a critical introduction and an excerpt from the authors own novel. The introduction analyzes and explored the correlation between characterization and world building in fantasy or supernatural fiction, arguing that character driven narratives are essential for writing stories that balance the fantastical with the real human experience to engage readers at an emotional level. The author accomplishes this by utlizing theorists such as E M Forster, Lubomir Dolezel, Milan Kundera, James Wood, David Corebett, and Stephen King to examine how elaborate settings should not overshadow character complexity. Through understanding their theories, the authors own writing process, and R R Tolkien's fiction works, this paper demonstrates that relatable, round, characters that cover a range of emotional, psychological, and the nuance of the human experience are essential for showcasing the human condition, even when placed within other worldly settings. IN the end it concludes that world building and characterization are reliant on each other to create the most convincing fantasy or supernatural fiction that will illustrate universal human experiences by balancing the imaginative with the real.
Keywords
characterization, world-building, fantasy fiction, supernatural fiction, round characters, narrative theory, human condition, character-driven narrative, emotional engagement, creative writing, literary analysis, psychological realism
Subject Categories
Fiction
Copyright
© Parker Finley
Recommended Citation
Finley, Parker, "A Witch's Tale: Shadow of Her Past" (2025). Graduate Theses/Dissertations. 4121.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/4121
