THE UNRAVELING OF A WORLD: DEGENERATION IN URSULA K. LE GUIN’S EARTHSEA CYCLE
Date
2018-12-11
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
In the first Earthsea trilogy, Ursula K. Le Guin exposes the process of degeneration, humanity’s connection to it, and how restoration counteracts the devastation of degeneration. Throughout the trilogy, degeneration comes in different forms. Each novel focuses primarily on personal and collective degeneration and how through acts of self-sacrifice the protagonists are able to restore themselves and their world to its original state. Unlike a series that promotes reformation, like The Hunger Games, where degeneration is combatted with rebellion and revolution, the Earthsea Cycle portrays a world in need of restoration rather than reformation in order to correct the consequences of degeneration.
Description
Keywords
Fantasy, Young Adult, Degeneration, Ursula K. Le Guin, American literature, Earthsea Cycle
Citation
Degree
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Department
English
Program
English