Date of Award
Fall 12-14-2024
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts - English
Department
English
First Advisor
Mark E. Sanders
Second Advisor
Sara Parks
Third Advisor
Lauren Burrow
Fourth Advisor
Bridget Adams
Abstract
The vignettes in this collection are memoir essays connected by the theme of hit-and-runs – i.e., random life encounters in which people share bits of themselves and leave subsequent lasting impressions. Resonating with themes of identity and belonging, overcoming obstacles and taking risks, the chronological throughline visits unique locations around the world, and frequently “hits” historical events, while tracing the narrator’s coming-of-age and spiritual journey from the mountains of Appalachia to the streets of Prague and home to Houston, as she “runs” with carnies and psychics, hurricane refugees, lovers, and predators from whom she must escape. Interspersed in these memoirs are lyrics from songs – a soundtrack for life – sharing with the audience an auditory impact of the recollection. Each of these hit-and-runs are true to experience, with changes to names only if needed to respect the privacy of those involved.
Key words: narrative, coming of age, spirituality, creative nonfiction,
Repository Citation
Cope, Alison, "Hit-and-Runs: A Memoir" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 576.
https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/576
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.