A Formulaic Structure Analysis in Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Abstract

This research discusses the formula in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. The formula in this novel is done by elaborating the narrative structure in the novel including setting, character and characterization, and plot. Further, this thesis is required to break down the construction of religiosity concept which appears in the formula. The construction of religiosity concept in the formula relates to cultural background of American towards religiosity. Therefore, this research uses formula theory by John G. Cawelti (1976) to finish this thesis. The standardization is needed to find the narrative structure in the formula. It consists of three formulaic elements- setting, character and characterization, and plot. To show the relation between formula and culture, the discussion in this thesis explores the construction of religiosity concepts as the escapism of the novel. It aims to find American religious culture represented in the novel. This thesis is qualitative research since the data are in the form of utterances or words. The data are divided into two types- primary and secondary data. The primary data are taken from The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones focusing on three literary formulaic elements. The secondary data are taken from books, journals, articles, and website from internet which show the condition of American religious culture.