Linguistics and Literature Studies Vol. 5(2), pp. 69 - 77
DOI: 10.13189/lls.2017.050201
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Tricksterism and Humor in Bread Givers (1925) by Anzia Yeziaska

Zhou Jingqiong ^*
Faculty of English Language and Culture, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, People's Republic of China

ABSTRACT

This paper deals with the trickster narrative and humorous characterization in Bread Givers (Anzia Yezierska, 1925). It starts first with characteristics typical of tricksterism, which is divided into two parts, trickster narrative and humorous characterization. Then the social and cultural circumstances are introduced of the early 20^th-century decades where Anzia Yezierska stood out as a unique Jewish writer with her masterpiece, Bread Givers. The trickster narrative of the female protagonist is explored, followed by the humorous characterization of Reb Smolinsky, her father. To conclude, tricksterism and humor serve their thematic and moral functions in the novel: they help the characters tide over poverty, sexism, and racism, and ultimately enable Sara, the narrator protagonist to rise from ghetto to a middle class career.

KEYWORDS
Trickster Narrative, Humorous Characterization, Modernity, Bread Givers

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Zhou Jingqiong , "Tricksterism and Humor in Bread Givers (1925) by Anzia Yeziaska," Linguistics and Literature Studies, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 69 - 77, 2017. DOI: 10.13189/lls.2017.050201.

(b). APA Format:
Zhou Jingqiong (2017). Tricksterism and Humor in Bread Givers (1925) by Anzia Yeziaska. Linguistics and Literature Studies, 5(2), 69 - 77. DOI: 10.13189/lls.2017.050201.