Ysabelle Arcos ENGL 251 Dr. Kirsten Inglis March 13, 2024 Thesis and Annotated Bibliography: Memories Serving as Beacon of Hope in Mandel’s Station Eleven and Robinson’s Monkey Beach. Research Question: The novels, Station Eleven by Mandel and Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson, consist of non-linear narratives focusing on memories the protagonists have from the past. How do the protagonists’ memories impact their actions and attitudes toward society? Do their memories provide closure and a sense of hope to the crises they faced? Thesis: Emily St. John Mandel and Eden Robinson both showcase the use of past memories to help navigate through crises, but Station Eleven utilises memories as sources of comfort and pain to demonstrate Kirsten’s resilience in the …show more content…
“Closure in Dystopia: Projecting Memories of the End of Crises in Speculative Fiction.” Memory Studies, vol. 14, No. 1 -. 6, 2021, pp. 113-122. 1347–61, https://doi.org/10.1177/17506980211054340. Serrano-Muoz explores the idea of closure through the projection of memories of crises, in the context of speculative narratives (Serrano-Muoz, 1351). She touches on various speculative narratives, including Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven. Serrano-Muoz argues that closure often involves not only the resolution of immediate conflicts but also reconstructs collective memory after a crisis (Serrano-Muoz, 1350). To support her argument, she highlights how Mandel’s narrative showcases closure through the post-pandemic world where the characters grasp onto memories of the pre-pandemic era, in order to find meaning and continuity throughout the crisis (Serrano-Muoz, 1349). Serrano-Muoz’s analysis provides insight into the ways speculative fiction implements themes of memory, closure, and resilience, resulting in readers gaining a deeper understanding of the genre’s narrative strategies. Her ideas are formed through seven literary works, ensuring her project is