John Kennedy Toole, A Confederacy of Dunces: Ignatius J. Reilly's Worldview

Mgr. Jaroslav Matula

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

Tato bakalářská práce předkládá detailní analýzu dvou postav humoristického románu Johna Kennedyho Toolea A Confederacy of Dunces (Spolčení hlupců) - Ignatiuse a Jonese - a pokouší se objasnit význam rolí, které tyto postavy v románu hrají. Román je rovněž posuzován v kontextu literatury amerického Jihu a zvláštní pozornost je věnována zachycení rasových vztahů.

Abstract:

Ignatius versus Jones: An Analysis of Their Roles in John Kennedy Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces. This bachelor thesis presents a detailed analysis of two protagonists of John Kennedy Toole's comic novel A Confederacy of Dunces (1980) - Ignatius and Jones - and attempts to explain the roles these characters perform in the narrative. As both characters provide the reader with completely differing perspectives on modern-day society, a great deal of attention is paid to the implications of their attitudes for the interpretation of the novel's message. The novel is also viewed in the context of Southern literature; strong focus is put on the depiction of race relations.

Keywords

John Kennedy Toole, A Confederacy of Dunces, Southern literature, comic novel, satire, racial issues, criticism of society, literatura amerického Jihu, humoristický román, satira, kritika společnosti, rasové problémy

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 4. 5. 2009

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 12. 6. 2009
• Supervisor: Mgr. Pavla Buchtová

Masaryk University

Faculty of Education

Bachelor programme / field:
Specialization in Education / Teacher Training in Foreign Languages - English Language