Author Date

2021-12-03

Degree Name

Department

Linguistics and English Language

College

Fine Arts and Communications

Defense Date

2021-12-03

Publication Date

2021-12-15

First Faculty Advisor

Jamin Creed Rowan

First Faculty Reader

Sarah Reed

Honors Coordinator

Alan Manning

Keywords

Obituary, London, Ant-Conc

Abstract

This thesis is an analysis of the vocabulary and phrases used in obituaries written in London during World War II and in the first five years following the war. During the war, both the length and content of the obituaries was significantly different, as the subjects and manner of death during those years was also significantly different. During the post-war years, the subjects and content followed a lengthier format and were generally for older community members who died of natural causes. This change in structure was affected by the nature and frequency of death. The tone of the writing was also affected by the war and the affect it had emotionally on British citizens. Those obituaries written during the war were of a more memorial nature and were shorter due to the overwhelming frequency of deaths that occurred. Post-war obituaries were longer and were able to focus more on the individual due to the changing nature of most people’s lives at that point.