October 24 - 30

Southern Writers

OUTCOMES:

Students should

  • be familiar with the major events and movements of the historical period corresponding to the published works of writers studied.
  • understand the major plot and/or ideas of the assigned works of Wright, Walker, Welty, and O'Connor..
  • be able to analyze the subtle motivations of the characters in the assigned works.
  • examine and apply the major themes discussed in this unit and be able to explain how these themes are demonstrated in the works assigned.
  • know some of the characteristics of African American Literature and Southern literature and be able to recognize those characteristics in the works of the assigned writers.

 Assignments include

  • reading the head notes of writers assigned in the text book,
  • reading all the documents linked in the module
  • reading selections from the works of Wright, Walker, Welty, and O'Connor.

Assessments include one written assignment and one discussion.

 

Assignment 7: Due  Oct. 30

  1. Read the head note on Richard Wright and his story "Almos' a Man." Write a paragraph detailing Dave's concept of manhood.
  2. Read head note for Alice Walker and her story "Everyday Use." Write a paragraph proving that Walker's story is a good example of African American Literature. See characteristics below that you MUST apply in your paragraph for credit.
  3. Read Eudora Welty’s head note and “Petrified Man” (1094). Consider why the setting of this story is so important to the plot. Then write a paragraph explaining why this story qualifies as an example of Southern literature (see link to characteristics below that you MUST use for this paragraph to get credit.)

  4. Read Flannery O'Connor's head note and "Good Country People."  (1340) Concentrate on the “moment of grace” with Hulga as explained in Southern Women Writers link. Then write a paragraph explaining what YOU think O'Connor was trying to show in this story.

    Study Characteristics Of Southern Literature and Characteristics of African American Literature. Richard Wright is both black and Southern, so his works tend to fit in both categories.

Put all four written parts of Assignment 7 into one document and submit here: Assignment 7

  

Discussion 4: Due Oct. 30 Re-read Southern Women Writers. Then respond to a question about O'Connor's "moment of grace" in Discussion 4: Moment of Grace for 8 points.