Dreaming Other Dreams: Persona and Humor in Mark Twain's Early Writings

In his early writings, Mark Twain tries to transcend life's incongruities and polarities by developing a flexible persona and kaleidoscopic humor. Dissipating distinctions, Twain uses humorous play to express variegated tones and perspectives. Through humor's plasticity, Twain volatilizes world and self; he asserts his power to make the world and himself anew. Mark Twain evolves into a fluid persona who can convert almost any situation into fantasy and fun, who can transform our sense of reality through comic fictions.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

English

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Florence, Donald Eugene

Contributors dc:contributor

• Michelson, Bruce

• Literature, American

Identifier

(UMI)AAI9329028

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/72041