Date

11-11-2026

Department

College of Arts and Sciences

Degree

Master of Arts in Literature (MA)

Chair

Karen Dodson

Keywords

Dante, Milton, Tolkien, Sin, Judgment, Redemption, History, New Historicism

Disciplines

English Language and Literature

Abstract

This thesis examines how Dante's Inferno, Milton's Paradise Lost, and J.R.R Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings transforms the traditions of the Christina Epic and its understanding of sin, judgement, and redemption across historical and theological contexts. Using the New Historicist lens of literary criticism, this thesis considers how each author adapts the literary and religious traditions for their respective era. In tracing these connections, this thesis argues that the three works do not simply repeat Christian doctrine; they transform it through literary form, revealing how moral concerns evolve while continuing to shape the literary canon.

Download

Share

COinS