The aim of this bachelor thesis is to analyse racial attitudes of the mid 20th century Britain as they are reflected in the novel Ten Little Niggers by Agatha Christie. Firstly, the theoretical part deals with historical development of race and racism, particularly in Britain, and focuses on historical periods, which were crucial for evolving racial and ethnic attitudes such as slavery, colonization or immigration. Further, the field of cultural studies is introduced as an approach to an analysis of literary works and also various theories about race and racism in literature, mainly in detective fiction, are presented. The application of the theory is shown on the analysis of specific situations and characters from the novel Ten Little Niggers as well as from other similar works of the same period written by Agatha Christie.
Annotation in English
Cílem této práce je analyzovat rasové postoje v polovině 20. století v Británii zobrazené v románu Agathy Christie Deset malých černoušků. Nejdříve se teoretická část zabývá historickým vývojem rasy a rasismu převážně v Británii a zaměřuje se na historická období, která byla klíčová pro rozvoj rasových a etnických postojů, a to například otroctví, kolonizace a imigrace. Dále je, jako přístup k analýze literárního díla, představena oblast kulturních studií a také různé teorie týkající se rasismu v literatuře, zejména v oblasti detektivní literatury. Aplikování těchto teorií je v literatuře prokázáno analýzou konkrétních situací a postav z románu Deset malých černoušků a podpořeno analýzou dalších děl napsaných Agathou Christie ve stejném období.
Keywords
Ten Little Niggers, Agatha Christie, racism, attitudes, Britain, analysis, detective fiction.
Keywords in English
Deset malých černoušků, Agatha Christie, rasismus, postoje, Británie, analýza, detektivní literatura.
Length of the covering note
55 s.
Language
AN
Annotation
The aim of this bachelor thesis is to analyse racial attitudes of the mid 20th century Britain as they are reflected in the novel Ten Little Niggers by Agatha Christie. Firstly, the theoretical part deals with historical development of race and racism, particularly in Britain, and focuses on historical periods, which were crucial for evolving racial and ethnic attitudes such as slavery, colonization or immigration. Further, the field of cultural studies is introduced as an approach to an analysis of literary works and also various theories about race and racism in literature, mainly in detective fiction, are presented. The application of the theory is shown on the analysis of specific situations and characters from the novel Ten Little Niggers as well as from other similar works of the same period written by Agatha Christie.
Annotation in English
Cílem této práce je analyzovat rasové postoje v polovině 20. století v Británii zobrazené v románu Agathy Christie Deset malých černoušků. Nejdříve se teoretická část zabývá historickým vývojem rasy a rasismu převážně v Británii a zaměřuje se na historická období, která byla klíčová pro rozvoj rasových a etnických postojů, a to například otroctví, kolonizace a imigrace. Dále je, jako přístup k analýze literárního díla, představena oblast kulturních studií a také různé teorie týkající se rasismu v literatuře, zejména v oblasti detektivní literatury. Aplikování těchto teorií je v literatuře prokázáno analýzou konkrétních situací a postav z románu Deset malých černoušků a podpořeno analýzou dalších děl napsaných Agathou Christie ve stejném období.
Keywords
Ten Little Niggers, Agatha Christie, racism, attitudes, Britain, analysis, detective fiction.
Keywords in English
Deset malých černoušků, Agatha Christie, rasismus, postoje, Británie, analýza, detektivní literatura.
Research Plan
Firstly, theories of the use of race and ethnicity in fiction in general and especially in British interwar literature should be outlined, especially how texts both reflect and inscribe attitudes in the wider culture of the period. The theory selected should be directly applicable to TEN LITTLE NIGGERS and should then be used to analyze the novel in later chapters. The longest and most significant part of the BP should be this analysis of the book using the background and theoretical tools in the earlier chapters. Specific events, ideas and figures in the book that show diverse attitudes toward race and ethnicity should be described and examined with emphasis on racial and ethnic stereotypes and countertypes. Similar and dissimilar elements in other works by Christie and by her contemporaries writing detective fiction can be used to support the BP author?s main points about how race and ethnicity are represented. The publishing history of the work originally published as TEN LITTLE NIGGERS should be traced, particularly how these changes throughout the years reflect evolving attitudes.
Research Plan
Firstly, theories of the use of race and ethnicity in fiction in general and especially in British interwar literature should be outlined, especially how texts both reflect and inscribe attitudes in the wider culture of the period. The theory selected should be directly applicable to TEN LITTLE NIGGERS and should then be used to analyze the novel in later chapters. The longest and most significant part of the BP should be this analysis of the book using the background and theoretical tools in the earlier chapters. Specific events, ideas and figures in the book that show diverse attitudes toward race and ethnicity should be described and examined with emphasis on racial and ethnic stereotypes and countertypes. Similar and dissimilar elements in other works by Christie and by her contemporaries writing detective fiction can be used to support the BP author?s main points about how race and ethnicity are represented. The publishing history of the work originally published as TEN LITTLE NIGGERS should be traced, particularly how these changes throughout the years reflect evolving attitudes.
Recommended resources
LENTRICCHIA, Frank.MCLAUGHLIN,Thomas. Critical Terms for Literary Study.USA.University of Chicago Press, 1995.ISBN:0226472035.
ROBYNS,Gwen. The Mystery of Agatha Christie. Garden City,NY. 1978. ISBN:0385126230.
DIAMOND,Michael. "Lesser Breeds".Racial attitudes in popular British culture,1890-1940.Anthem Press.2006.ISBN:9781843312161
CHRISTIE,Agatha. Ten little niggers.Glasgow.Collins.1976.ISBN:0006117279
CHRISTIE,Agatha. And Then There Were None.USA.St Martin's Paperbacks.2001.ISBN:0312979479
Agatha Christie.Welcome to the Home of the Queen of Crime:The official information and community website,2009.URL:http://agathachristie.com/about-christie/christies-life/biography/.
Recommended resources
LENTRICCHIA, Frank.MCLAUGHLIN,Thomas. Critical Terms for Literary Study.USA.University of Chicago Press, 1995.ISBN:0226472035.
ROBYNS,Gwen. The Mystery of Agatha Christie. Garden City,NY. 1978. ISBN:0385126230.
DIAMOND,Michael. "Lesser Breeds".Racial attitudes in popular British culture,1890-1940.Anthem Press.2006.ISBN:9781843312161
CHRISTIE,Agatha. Ten little niggers.Glasgow.Collins.1976.ISBN:0006117279
CHRISTIE,Agatha. And Then There Were None.USA.St Martin's Paperbacks.2001.ISBN:0312979479
Agatha Christie.Welcome to the Home of the Queen of Crime:The official information and community website,2009.URL:http://agathachristie.com/about-christie/christies-life/biography/.