\"Theorizing voice as a construct in life writing,\" Sidonie Smith and Julia Watson write, \"has not yet been the focus of sustained critical attention.\" They whittle the myriad ways this idea might be approached down to two elemental questions: \"How might we understand our attribution of a particular 'voice' to life writing?\" and \"And how do we theorize the relationship of voice to autobiographical acts?\" In plainer language, what factors influence an author's construction of a voice in tone and syntax for a particular piece or ouvre; and how might we as theorists and readers examine the author's choices across any given work, from whole book to specific event?
In this work, Stephens includes her dissertation memoir, as well as a critical examination of her use of first-person narration in that body of work.
","abstract_html":"<p>"Theorizing voice as a construct in life writing," Sidonie Smith and Julia Watson write, "has not yet been the focus of sustained critical attention." They whittle the myriad ways this idea might be approached down to two elemental questions: "How might we understand our attribution of a particular 'voice' to life writing?" and "And how do we theorize the relationship of voice to autobiographical acts?" In plainer language, what factors influence an author's construction of a voice in tone and syntax for a particular piece or ouvre; and how might we as theorists and readers examine the author's choices across any given work, from whole book to specific event?</p><p>In this work, Stephens includes her dissertation memoir, as well as a critical examination of her use of first-person narration in that body of work.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Stephens, Liz"],"institution":"Ohio University","degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":"doctoral","degree_discipline":"English (Arts and Sciences)","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Moore, Dinty"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2012,"date_issued":"2012","date_published":"2012","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:35:52Z","subjects":["American Studies","memoir","western history","women's life writing","Cache Valley, Utah"],"languages":["English"],"rights":["unrestricted","This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1353956511","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Moore, Dinty"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Stephens, Liz"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2012"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Ohio University / OhioLINK"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Electronic Thesis or Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["English (Arts and Sciences)"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["doctoral"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Ohio University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["American Studies","memoir","western history","women's life writing","Cache Valley, Utah"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["English"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["unrestricted","This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1353956511"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["\"Theorizing voice as a construct in life writing,\" Sidonie Smith and Julia Watson write, \"has not yet been the focus of sustained critical attention.\" They whittle the myriad ways this idea might be approached down to two elemental questions: \"How might we understand our attribution of a particular 'voice' to life writing?\" and \"And how do we theorize the relationship of voice to autobiographical acts?\" In plainer language, what factors influence an author's construction of a voice in tone and syntax for a particular piece or ouvre; and how might we as theorists and readers examine the author's choices across any given work, from whole book to specific event?
In this work, Stephens includes her dissertation memoir, as well as a critical examination of her use of first-person narration in that body of work.
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In this work, Stephens includes her dissertation memoir, as well as a critical examination of her use of first-person narration in that body of work.
"],"dc:format":["application/pdf","p.227","741.2 KB"],"dc:identifier":["http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1353956511"],"dc:language":["English"],"dc:publisher":["Ohio University / OhioLINK"],"dc:rights":["unrestricted","This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws."],"dc:subject":["American Studies","memoir","western history","women's life writing","Cache Valley, Utah"],"dc:title":["The Days Are Gods: A Life in Place"],"dc:type":["Electronic Thesis or Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["English (Arts and Sciences)"],"thesis:degree_level":["doctoral"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"],"thesis:institution_name":["Ohio University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:35:52Z"}