Conspiracy narratives in Lemony Snicket's A series of unfortunate events

Hatch, Jillian (2015) Conspiracy narratives in Lemony Snicket's A series of unfortunate events. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

This thesis studies themes of conspiracy in children’s literature through the lens of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (ASOUE). The evolution of conspiracy theory, from traditional to postmodern, is mirrored in the journey of the Baudelaire children. Starting out as eager detectives, the children develop into survivors, keenly aware of humanity’s many flaws. Despite this dark, conspiracy-laden journey, ASOUE is remarkably enjoyable, largely due to the playfulness with which the theme of conspiracy is treated. The characters, Lemony Snicket (as character, narrator, and author), and the reader all partake in this conspiratorial playfulness; and these modes of play serve to entice the reader into active reading and learning. The themes of conspiracy and play within ASOUE provide the child reader with the tools needed to address and master linguistic challenges, to overcome anxieties, and to engage with our frequently scary and chaotic world by way of realistic optimism.

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