Publication Date

1966

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Murray, Don, 1917-

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of English

LCSH

Updike; John

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the philosophical direction of the poetry and fiction of a much discussed contemporary American writer, John Updike. The Updike works considered are his published collections of poetry, The Carpentered Hen and Telephone Poles; three novels, The Poorhouse Fair, Rabbit Run, and The Centaur; and three short story collections, The Same Door, Pigeon Feathers, and Olinger Stories. The conclusion of the study is, briefly, that Updike, though influenced strongly by Protestant Christianity and in lesser degree by the contradictory philosophies of practical Humanism and twentieth century Existentialism, cannot be identified strictly with any of these. Instead, his poetry and fiction reveal that he is a seeker after new understandings of man's relationship to man and to the universe. He recognizes man's philosophical and religious dilemmas but offers no solutions other than an optimistic belief that somewhere within or beyond man's religious heritage, answers can be found. At this stage of his artistic career, John Updike is a searcher for religious concepts adequate for contemporary thinking man.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references.

Extent

iv, 118 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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