TRAUMA, WAR EXPERIENCE, AND NARRATIVE STRATEGIES IN AMERICAN AND BRITISH LITERATURE

This thesis explores the representation of trauma and war experience in American and British literature, focusing on the narrative strategies through which writers articulate the psychological, emotional, and moral consequences of armed conflict. War is not only portrayed as a historical event but also as a deeply personal and collective trauma that reshapes human consciousness, memory, and identity. The study examines how literary narratives transform lived war experiences into textual forms, emphasizing fragmented structures, unreliable narration, shifts in temporal order, and symbolic imagery as key techniques for expressing trauma. Special attention is given to the ways in which trauma disrupts linear storytelling, reflecting the fractured inner worlds of individuals affected by war. By analyzing selected works from American and British literary traditions, the research highlights both shared and culturally specific approaches to depicting war-related trauma. The thesis demonstrates that narrative strategies function not merely as stylistic choices but as essential tools for conveying the inexpressibility of traumatic experience. Ultimately, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of how literature serves as a space for witnessing, remembering, and critically reflecting on the enduring impact of war on the human psyche.