American Literature

1. American Literature • Study session / Review

2. Modernism • Was a reaction to the emergence of city life as a central force in society. Modernist literature normally revolved around the idea of individualism, and a mistrust in institutions. • (See additional notes on Modernism

3. A Streetcar Named Desire

4. Author • Tennessee Williams • 1911-1983 • Many of his characters and stories were semi-autobiographical

5. Primary Characters • Blanche DuBois • Mitch Mitchell • Stanley Kowalski • Stella Kowalski

6. Blanche DuBois • A Southern Belle from Belle Reve in Laurel, Mississippi • A compulsive liar and alcoholic

7. Mitch Mitchell • Lives with his mother, is single • Is a war buddy of Stanleys. • Is younger than Stanley in the play, but apparently older than him in the movie.

8. Stanley Kowalski • A Vet of WWII • His parents are immigrants from Poland • He is an abusive husband

9. Stella Kowalski • She is from Belle Reve in Laurel, Mississippi • She is married to Stanley • She doesn’t appear to mind being abused • She gets excited by her husband’s brutality

10. Secondary Characters • Eunice and Steve Hubbell

11. Eunice Hubble • Solves her problems with alcohol.

12. Steve Hubble • Is abusive, like Stanley, but he gets his fair share back.

13. Tertiary Characters

14. Allan Grey • Blanche’s deceased husband. • Killed himself at a casino • Killed himself because of his homosexuality.

15. Blind “Mexican Woman” • Sells flowers and crowns for the dead.

16. “Negro Woman” • Takes the purse from a prostitute. Appears to hang around, but never has very many lines

17. Pablo • Plays cards with Stanley, Steve, and Mitch. Doesn’t have very many lines.

18. Shep Huntley • Blanche’s one time boyfriend. He is the subject of many of her lies.

19. Setting • Circa 1947 • After World War II • Elysian Fields, New Orleans, Louisiana

20. Other Settings, never actually seen • The Four Deuces, New Orleans, Louisiana • Belle Reve, Laurel, Mississippi • The Flamingo, Laurel, Mississippi • The Tarantula Arms, Laurel, Mississippi

21. Topics of Discussion • Alcoholism • Reality versus Fantasy • Class conflict • Gender • Sex, Gender and Power • The American Dream

23. The Great Gatsby • 1925 Modernist book by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

24. Author • F. Scott Fitzgerald • Was very critical of American Society • Spent a significant amount of years living in France, instead of the United States • Married into money, was nouveau riche

25. Primary Characters • Nick Carraway • Jay Gatsby • Daisy Buchanan

26. Nick Carraway • Daisy’s cousin from Minnesota • Made his money in bonds and stocks

27. Jay Gatsby • Went from rags to riches through unknown means. • Is originally from South Dakota • Is a decorated war hero.

28. Daisy Buchanan • Originally from Saint Louis, Missouri • Had many suitors who went off to war

29. Secondary Characters • Tom Buchanan • Myrtle Wilson • George Wilson

30. Tom Buchanan • From one of the richest families in Chicago • He didn’t have to work for his money, and had “reached his peak” at 21. • Has cheated on his wife several times,

31. Myrtle Wilson • Met Tom on the train. • Is obsessed with having her own lover.

32. George Wilson • Works in a mechanic’s shop • Seems to know of his wife’s misdeeds on some level.

33. Tertiary Characters • Klipspringer • Owleyes • Meyer Wolfsheim • Pam Buchanan • Mr. Gatz

34. Klipspringer • Plays “Ain’t We Got Fun” on the piano • Is a free-loader

35. Owleyes • Is impressed with Gatsby’s real books

36. Meyer Wolfsheim • Fixed the 1919 World Series • Has human molars on his cufflinks.

37. Pam Buchanan • Is Daisy’s “little dream” • Makes Gatsby upset.

38. Gatz • Gatsby’s father from North Dakota • Is proud of his son’s success • Only appears at the funeral. • Doesn’t seem to know how his son got his money.

39. Michaelis “The Greek” • Tries to be the voice of reason for George Wilson

40. Catherine ??? • Myrtle’s sister

41. Settings • Summer of 1922, starting at the solstice • Manhattan (Apartment) • Valley of Ashes • West Egg – nouveau riche (new money) • East Egg – old money

42. Backgrounds • Places not shown, only listed: • Minnesota – where Gatsby got his money • North Dakota – Gatsby’s home state • Louisville – Daisy’s hometown • Chicago – Tom’s hometown

43. Topics of Discussion • Old Money versus New Money • Social Norms • Sex, Gender, and Power • Spousal Abuse • The American Dream • Money – who has it and how do they get it?

44. Naturalism • A highly scientific means of portraying a believable reality in literature.

45. Author • Jack London • Wrote and had many adventures, but looked at them scientifically • London was known to be racist and sexist

46. Text • To Build A Fire • A man is stuck out in the Yukon and cannot manage to make a fire to save his life.

47. Characters • Unnamed Man - characteristic of Naturalism • Unmade Dog

48. Topics • Man v. Nature

49. Naturalism is D-Shaped • Detached • Social Conditions • Heredity • Attitude Towards Controversial Subjects • Pessimism • Environment • Determinism

50. Realism • Text • An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge • Author • Ambrose Bierce • Bitter Bierce • Was a close fan of William Randolph Hearst