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“A HIGHER SPHERE OF THOUGHT”:
EMERSON’S USE OF THE EXEMPLUM
AND EXEMPLUM FIDEI

By
CHARLA DAWN MAJOR
Master of Arts
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, Oklahoma
1995
Bachelor of Arts
The University of Texas at Dallas
Richardson, Texas
1990

Submitted to the Faculty of the
Graduate College of the
Oklahoma State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
December, 2005

“A HIGHER SPHERE OF THOUGHT”:
EMERSON’S USE OF THE EXEMPLUM
AND EXEMPLUM FIDEI

Dissertation Approved:

_______________Jeffrey Walker________________
Dissertation Adviser
_____________William M. Decker_______________

_______________Edward Jones________________

________________L. G. Moses_________________

______________A. Gordon Emslie_______________
Dean of the Graduate College

ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I wish to express my sincere appreciation to my advisor, Dr. Jeffrey
Walker, for his guidance, support, and friendship, not only during the considerable duration of this work but throughout the entire course of my graduate studies here at Oklahoma State University. No one could ask for a better teacher, advisor, mentor, and friend, and I have gained immeasurably from this long association. I consider myself extremely fortunate and blessed.
My gratitude extends to my committee members. Dr. William Decker has been a continual source of guidance and resources and has consistently perpetuated my interest in both this subject and literary period. Dr. Edward
Jones, who has been there from the very beginning, has been a great source of guidance, assistance, encouragement, and friendship and has demonstrated a welcome propensity for being available to me at critical points in my education.
And Dr. L. G. Moses, my most recent acquaintance, has offered a unique intelligence and wit that made this dissertation a truly enjoyable learning experience. I also wish to express my sincere appreciation to the

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