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A Gathering of Old Men (1983)

A Gathering of Old Men (1983). Notes for Understanding Perfection Learning. Gaines Bio. Born 15 January 1933, river Lake Plantation in Pointe Coupee Parish, LA Parents separated and the absence of father would contribute to major theme of sons searching for fathers. Gaines Bio.

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A Gathering of Old Men (1983)

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  1. A Gathering of Old Men (1983) Notes for Understanding Perfection Learning

  2. Gaines Bio • Born 15 January 1933, river Lake Plantation in Pointe Coupee Parish, LA • Parents separated and the absence of father would contribute to major theme of sons searching for fathers

  3. Gaines Bio • Moved to California when 15; racial and ethnic variety of new surroundings was reminiscent of cultural mixture that characterized his Louisiana parish • Step-father in Merchant Marines – strict disciplinarian; Gaines spent much time researching the Louisiana world he left behind

  4. Cajun vs Creole • Cajun – white French immigrants from Canada (1700s); Acadians migrated to LA because it was French territory; bayou country of LA = farming and fishing (hunting) • Creole- mixture of French and Spanish influence; African-American and white racial heritage; kept to themselves

  5. Gaines as storyteller • Called the Bayou griot – oral historian, poet, singer; Gaines relates and tells of the history, local events, and mix of African-American, Cajun, and Creole heritages that compose the multi-cultural identity of the cloistered community

  6. Education • Formal schooling at San Francisco State • Return to Baton Rouge in January 1963 • Professor of creative writing at University of Southern Louisiana (USL)

  7. AGOM - POV • Many narrators – depict many actualities, differing perceptions of reality • “Many narrators allow us the opportunity to know the characters’ consciousness intimately, and what clearly emerges is the dual consciousness of men who have existed in a world of silent acceptance while dreaming of a world of willful action.”

  8. Action and self-realization • The power to act, to be identified – action is power • “Men, who for many years have waited as silent brutes, at long last discard their yokes and seize power over their lives.”

  9. Action and self-realization • They become men who ‘do things,’ and in a single act of courage reaffirm their manhood and humanity.” • “In their twilight years, they realize the opportunity an act of murder provides them to salvage their dignity.”

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