Sponsor
Portland State University. Department of English
First Advisor
Charles D'Ambrosio
Term of Graduation
2011
Date of Publication
4-28-2011
Document Type
Closed Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Creative Writing
Department
English
Language
English
Subjects
Families -- Fiction, Parents -- Death -- Psychological aspects -- Fiction, Farm life -- Kansas -- Fiction
DOI
10.15760/etd.1683
Physical Description
1 online resource (i, 64 pages)
Abstract
Set in rural Kansas, this story follows the lives of Jonathan Tate, his sister Lily Anne Tate, and their father, up until his death, Hershall Tate. They are an isolated family, seemingly living outside of time. John opens the novel with a walk into town to set the contrast between him and the rest of the world. Time is the theme and essence, because every scene and the tone of the scenes are weighted by the imminence of Hershall's death. He is dying slowly and so their lives move slowly. Lily can't help but be ornery, while John, assuming all the chores and anxiety of the future without his father, is reserved and reluctant. Hershall is set in his ways and not in a hurry to get the house in order before his death. There is the old-fashioned nature of Hershall, the isolated nature of the whole family, and the rest of the modern world to contend with. These beginning pages are setting up the next stage of the novel where Lily and John begin their journey after their father's death.
Rights
In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/11144
Recommended Citation
Courtney, Mackenzie, "Snowing in Kansas" (2011). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 1683.
https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.1683
Comments
This thesis is only available to students, faculty and staff at PSU.