Attaining Victory: Louisiana Authors & Characters

Attaining Victory: Louisiana Authors & Characters Jennifer Rossie Andrea Wolfe Melva Young

Authors • Ernest Gaines (1933- ) • Henry Clay Lewis (1825-1850) • Alice Dunbar Nelson (1875-1935)

Image from www.louisiana.edu Ernest Gaines

Illustration by Felix Octavius Carr in the original printing of Henry Clay Lewis’ Odd Leaves from the Life of a “Louisiana Swamp Doctor”

Image from www.cstustan.edu Alice Dunbar Nelson

Overcoming Conflict What makes these three authors unique is their seemingly innate ability to achieve a positive outcome a difficult predicament or with a difficult decision.

Overcoming Conflict Characters: • Each character must overcome conflict • Resolution of the short story or novel involves the character attaining victory • Main characters of all three authors’ novels must overcome immense external or internal factors

Overcoming Conflict Authors: • The authors have overcome factors within themselves. • Many environmental situations have arisen throughout the authors’ life.

Born at River Lake Plantation in Point Coupee Parish in 1933. Based fictional setting of Bayonne, LA on this plantation Now a writer in residence at Southeastern Louisiana in Lafayette Ernest Gaines

Ernest Gaines:Published Works Multiple books and short stories– most popular include: • The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman • In My Father’s House • A Gathering of Old Men • A Lesson Before Dying

Ernest Gaines:Literary Aspects • Writes in first person narrative • Writes with multiple viewpoints • Racism a major theme • Discarded usual stereotypes of racism • Integrated the landscape and cultures of south Louisiana throughout his novels and short stories

Ernest Gaines: Personal Conflicts • Born in slave quarters on a plantation • Fifth generation of his family to be born there, moved to California at 15 • Only attended school a few months out of the year as a child up to grade six • Overcame cultural and educational barriers to become a celebrated writer

Ernest Gaines: Character Conflicts Each of his characters overcome an amazingly difficult situation: Ex. A Lesson Before Dying • Grant and Jefferson – experienced immense personal growth due to their interactions

Henry Clay Lewis • Born 1825 in South Carolina • Entered doctor apprenticeship then medical school • Settled in Madison Parish near the Tensas River • Died 1850 trying to cross a flooded bayou to see a patient

Henry Clay Lewis: Published Works • Published one collection of sketches after his death entitled Odd Leaves from the Life of a Louisiana “Swamp Doctor” • Some sketches were first published in the Spirit of the Times, a journal in the 1800s.

Henry Clay Lewis:Literary Aspects Utilized pseudonym – Madison Tensas • Genre was Southwestern Humor • Main character involved in harrowing situation • Dark, often satirical humor used to bring dire situations into a humorous light • Infused sketches with swampy environment

Henry Clay Lewis:Personal Conflicts • Wanted literary recognition despite using pseudonym to hide • Works were autobiographical, main character, Dr. Tensas, performed some scandalous acts • Internal conflict of wanting to hide his true self from his readers and craving their attention

Henry Clay Lewis:Character Conflicts • Madison Tensas caught in multiple sticky situations • Multiple conflicts with the barbaric swamp environment and its inhabitants • As following southwestern humor, protagonist overcame these situations effortlessly and with the use of humor

Alice Dunbar Nelson • Born 1875 in New Orleans • Light complexion and often passed for white • Politically active – supported the Anti-lynching Bill • Active in issues that affected African – Americans and women in her time

Alice Dunbar Nelson:Published Works • Authored short stories, lyric poetry, and Collections include: Violets and Other Tales,The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories, and Give Us Each Day: The Diary of Alice Dunbar-Nelson • Also had multiple fiction and nonfiction articles published in periodicals

Alice Dunbar Nelson: Literary Aspects • Themes in her writings: racism, roles of gender in society and importance of love, death, war, and nature • Authored short stories, lyric poetry and literary criticisms

Alice Dunbar Nelson:Personal Conflicts • Overcame racial issues in New Orleans • Often passed for white because she had a lighter complexion • Was an activist for race and gender issues in society • Unable to fully overcome these issues, but worked towards positive improvement

Alice Dunbar Nelson:Character Conflicts • Wrote many short stories with a female main character • Many of the characters were faced with overcoming ill fated love • Characters also must overcome family and personal constraints

Attaining Victory: Louisiana Authors & Characters