This document discusses self-identity and existential development in young adult (YA) literature and how it is portrayed in the Riyria series. It poses research questions about how these themes are catered to in YA genre and explored in the characters of the Riyria series. The document analyzes several characters from the Riyria series, examining how their identities and senses of purpose evolve throughout the story in response to major life events.

1. {
Self-Identity and
Existential Development
in YA Genre
Portrayed by Michael J. Sullivan in the
series “The Riyria Universe”

2.  Self identity – who we are
 Abstract
 Gradual – life changing events
 Existential crisis – journey to find himself
 Both found in YA genre
 Protagonists of Riyria series – Michael J. Sullivan
Introduction

3.  How self-identity and existential development are catered to
in YA genre and how does the Riyria series serve as an
example to these?
 What indications probe at the development of self-identity for
the protagonists in YA literature and how these indications are
implied in Riyria series?
 What incidents, quotes and dialogues throw light on the
identities of the characters in Riyria?
 What are the factors that facilitate the characters' journey of
excavating his stable existential form?
Research Questions and Objectives

4.  To explain self-identity and existential development in YA genre
and show how Riyria serves as an example.
 To find the indications that probe at the development of self-
identity of the protagonists in the Riyria series.
 To sift through the Riyria series in order to isolate examples that
throw light on the identities of the characters.
 To list the factors that facilitates the characters’ journey towards a
stable existential form.
Research Objectives

5.  Help future researchers
 Build foundations – portrayal of self identity and development
in YA
 Character development – chosen novel
Significance of Study

6.  Personal behavioral characteristics – race, ethnicity, religion
 Who you are – how you define yourself
 Abstract – immaterial – no clear meaning
 Past – present – future
 Philosophical questions – Purpose? Living for?
Self Identity

7.  Evolves gradually – product of situations
 Aspects of life – no control
 Grew up? Color? Choices? Beliefs?
 Express differently – Some may remain hidden
 May keep changing
 Exploration and commitment – development and growth
 Adopt what feels right
Journey to Self Identity

8.  Existence – Core of a man
 Virtues, goodness, mental abilities
 Existential crisis – questions foundations of life
 Search for purpose and meaning
 Realization – define life ho they want
 Result - Depressive disorder; trauma; dissatisfaction, isolation,
Existential Development

9.  Written, published or marketed for adolescents and young
adults
 Young Adults’ – between the ages of twelve to twenty
 Adult issues – identity, maturity, sexual orientation, drugs,
relationships
 Characteristics -
What is Young Adult (YA) genre?

10.  Phase of “trying different personas”
 Conflicts and dilemmas – real life problems
 Racism, family, political, love life, social life, friendship,
transferring, bullying, health, class difference, etc.
 Find stable identity
In YA literature

11.  Readers relate to emotions and problems
 Existential dilemmas invoke thinking of readers
 Read, decipher, dicuss more openly
 Readers question existence
 Applicable in fictional as well as real world
How does it help Readers?

12.  Qualitative – content
 Text of Riyria series
 Development of YA characters through dialogues form text
 traits characters retained, acquired or lost with time
 Factors responsible
Methodology

13. Appearance
 He looks like an assassin”
 “No, its his eyes. Have you seen them? Cold, I tell you. Dead eyes.
The kind used to seeing and handing out death”
 “You can tell just by looking at him. He has blood on is hands. The
man is evil, I tell you”
Analysis
Royce Melborne

14.  “My name is Hadrian Blackwater”
“Congratulations”, Royce’s reply was as cold as the wind that
carried it.
“Uh… What’s yours?” The man turned away. “Leave me alone.”
 “Old lunatic was right... We did make a good team”
 “He didn’t do anything wrong.” Tears formed in his eyes as he
said it. “He doesn’t deserve to die with me”
 “Save Hadrian.” Royce begged.
Friendship with Hadrian

15.  He should quit and take her away somewhere, perhaps get a
small bit of land where they could raise a family
Loving Gwen

16.  “That’s just it – I don’t want to! I’ve always survived. Life is like
a bully that gets laughs by seeing how much humiliation you’ll
put up with… I was a kid. I did everything it demanded just to
survive but as I’ve gotten older I realized there are limits. I
won’t eat mud just to survive”
 “I wanted to say thank you for being there for me, for being
here. For being the closest thing to a brother I’ll ever know. I just
- I want you to know that”
Gwen’s death – Existential crisis

17.  “Gwen doesn’t want you to die. She agrees with me. You can’t
kill yourself. You can’t do it without betraying her wishes”
 “This time I’m right and I know I’m right because Gwen saw the
future and she’s backing me up”
Purpose of Life

18. Regret of Leaving Home
 “I called him a coward. It was the worst thing I could think of,
and the last thing I said to him”
 “… his newly won freedom was wrought from the blood of his
father made it feel like a punishment”
 “I know, but when I was young I used to think I was… well…
special. I imagined that I would triumph in some great purpose,
win the girl, and save the kingdom but I suppose every boy feels
the same way”
Hadrian Blackwater

19.  “He had been more skilled and the crowds loved him… He had
defeated opponent after opponent… men had challenged him
and died. The crowds had begun to chant his new name, Galenti
– killer”
Trying different Identity

20.  “That’s just it Royce. There’s a war on and what am I doing? I’m
making a profit of it rather than fighting in it. I’m tired of
collecting money for being dishonorable”
 “I’ve tried to find meaning in it. I’ve tried to pretend we
achieved some greater good but in the end I have to be honest
with myself. I’m not a thief and I’m not a spy. So I know what I
am not. I just wish I knew what I am”
Self Doubt – Existential Crisis

21.  “There are no honorable causes. There is no good or evil. Evil is
only what we call those who oppose us”
 “I’m not the hero who saves he kingdom and wins the girl. Life
isn’t like that”
Questioning Identity – depression

22.  “Guarding you is sort of a family tradition that I would hate to
break”
Purpose of finding the heir

23.  “How is it we never had kings and emperor on our list of
potential careers? When you think about it, it beats the heck out
of wine makers, actors and fishermen”
Stable Identity

24. Weak, Helpless and Vulnerable
 Thrace had rummaged through a pile of debris and
human limbs looking for a weapon to fight an invincible
beast. Had it been bravery or had she been too naïve to
understand the futility”
 “The girl I knew as Thrace was a sweet, innocent child
who wanted only the love of her father.
Thrace / Modina

25.  “…she clutched her knees to her chest and pressed her cheek
against the straw, she blinked occasionally and her chest rose
and fell with each breath but nothing more “
Loss of purpose of life

26.  “I’m not afraid of anything anymore”
 I am Thrace Wood of Dahlgren village, daughter of Theron and
Addie. The beast killed my parents, my friends. Then it killed
my father – the last reason I had to live. But it did not kill me. I
survived.
 My family - my life - was gone but then I found a new family.
You are my family now, my father, my brother, my son and I
will not let the beast in… Here we stop it, here we fight, here we
face our enemy, without running… and here we kill it…”
Awakening of Self

27.  Self identity and existential development – major themes of YA
 Characters underwent drastic changes – gradual
 Depends on factors - realization, adversity, hardships,
friendship and relationships
Conclusion