“A woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised”: an ethical-critical analysis of theological rogues in Mark Twain’s personal recollections of Joan of Arc and L. M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables series.

This thesis uses ethical criticism to examine the transformative nature of the interaction between authors, characters, and readers, focusing on Mark Twain’s Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc and L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables series. By presenting socially transgressive figures in a sympathetic manner, Twain and Montgomery encourage a reevaluation of cultural and religious standards. The authors accomplish their goals by utilizing the form of Sunday school books while drastically altering the content, challenging readers’ expectations and urging ethical reform within the texts, as well as within the various historical audiences.