| Title |
Kearl, Anna Katrina MENG_2024 |
| Alternative Title |
Postmortem Papers |
| Creator |
Kearl, Anna Katrina |
| Collection Name |
Master of English |
| Description |
Inspired by memoirists like Joan Didion (The Year of Magical Thinking) and Cheryl Strayed (Wild), grief was examined through the lens of avoidance or confrontation in storytelling. Their reflections resonated, aligning with Suzanne Roberts' metaphor that "grief is like water-all water is wet," suggesting that every loss contributes to a shared pool of pain. |
| Abstract |
At twenty-four, I experienced profound grief after my grandmother's death from uterine cancer, an event that reshaped my understanding of loss and its deeply personal nature. Grief manifested in unexpected ways, pushing me to observe how others processed it and compelling me to confront my own emotions. While my father was silent and stormy, my mother loud and nostalgic, and my brother sought escapism, I found myself embodying aspects of all three. Eventually, I turned to writing as both a distraction and an outlet, allowing me to explore my memories and emotions while seeking new perspectives.; ; Inspired by memoirists like Joan Didion (The Year of Magical Thinking) and Cheryl Strayed (Wild), I examined how grief could be evaded or confronted through storytelling. Their reflections resonated with me, reinforcing Suzanne Roberts' metaphor that "grief is like water-all water is wet," reminding us that every loss adds to a collective pool of pain. Writing became my way of navigating grief, a process not to find definitive answers but to uncover new questions and curiosities about memory, loss, and healing. Through this project, I embraced the idea of "writing my way out," using words to process and better understand my journey through grief. |
| Subject |
Grief in literature; Creative nonfiction |
| Digital Publisher |
Stewart Library, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah, United States of America |
| Date |
2024 |
| Medium |
Thesis |
| Type |
Text |
| Access Extent |
876 KB; 56 page pdf |
| Language |
eng |
| Rights |
The author has granted Weber State University Archives a limited, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to reproduce his or her theses, in whole or in part, in electronic or paper form and to make it available to the general public at no charge. The author retains all other rights. |
| Source |
University Archives Electronic Records: Master of English. Stewart Library, Weber State University |
| Format |
application/pdf |
| ARK |
ark:/87278/s6rrgk9m |
| Setname |
wsu_smt |
| ID |
143583 |
| Reference URL |
https://digital.weber.edu/ark:/87278/s6rrgk9m |
