American American Southern Southern LiteratureLiterature

Melinda McDanielMelinda McDaniel

Ellie MastEllie Mast

Aubrey MartinAubrey Martin

Southern Literature 101Southern Literature 101

“ ‘“ ‘Southern literature’ announces the Southern literature’ announces the conjunction of the U.S. South and an conjunction of the U.S. South and an expressive art—texts identified as expressive art—texts identified as belonging to a particular history, belonging to a particular history, social organization, and cultural social organization, and cultural

imaginary” (5). imaginary” (5).

Much of what is known as southern literature Much of what is known as southern literature was written between 1830s and 1960s. During was written between 1830s and 1960s. During this period in history, the South and North this period in history, the South and North portions of the United States were beginning portions of the United States were beginning to show signs of disunity. Southerners wanted to show signs of disunity. Southerners wanted to separate themselves from the Northerners, to separate themselves from the Northerners, thus they chose to write entirely different thus they chose to write entirely different works. works.

“…“…and writers and readers of the South and writers and readers of the South correspondingly defined themselves against correspondingly defined themselves against the place (the North) or the ideology (Anti-the place (the North) or the ideology (Anti-Slavery, Industrial Capitalism) that they saw Slavery, Industrial Capitalism) that they saw themselves as different from” (5). themselves as different from” (5).

PurposePurpose

One of the integral aspects of southern One of the integral aspects of southern culture and tradition, is of it’s colorful culture and tradition, is of it’s colorful literature and storytelling. Common literature and storytelling. Common themes of southern writers include: themes of southern writers include: significant familial relationships, great significant familial relationships, great diction, and realistic characters. Writers in diction, and realistic characters. Writers in the south also had a sense of background the south also had a sense of background and a unique way of life worth writing and a unique way of life worth writing about.about.

Influences in Southern Influences in Southern WritingWriting

Slavery Slavery Civil WarCivil War Segregation Segregation Revolution in cultureRevolution in culture PovertyPoverty Military/ WarMilitary/ War

Elements of Southern Elements of Southern Writing StyleWriting Style

Dialect WritingDialect Writing Not used often in other writings because Not used often in other writings because

it is viewed as condescending to the race it is viewed as condescending to the race or ethnicity being portrayed.or ethnicity being portrayed.

Popular in Southern writing and Popular in Southern writing and incorporates local speech and patterns incorporates local speech and patterns i.e. ain’t, y’all etc. and misspelling of i.e. ain’t, y’all etc. and misspelling of words to display meaning i.e. yuh (you) words to display meaning i.e. yuh (you) and lak (like)and lak (like)

Dialect Writing Cont.Dialect Writing Cont.

Examples of books with dialect Examples of books with dialect writing:writing:

Tom SawyerTom Sawyer To Kill a MockingbirdTo Kill a Mockingbird Their Eyes Were Watching GodTheir Eyes Were Watching God Huck FinnHuck Finn The Color PurpleThe Color Purple

Examples of Dialect Examples of Dialect Writing Writing

Excerpts from Excerpts from Their Eyes Were Their Eyes Were Watching God Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston by Zora Neale Hurston

"At dat she ain't so ole as some of y'all "At dat she ain't so ole as some of y'all dat's talking." dat's talking."

"She ain't even worth talkin' after," "She ain't even worth talkin' after," Lulu Moss drawled through her nose. Lulu Moss drawled through her nose. "She sits high, but she looks low. "She sits high, but she looks low. Dat's what Ah say 'bout dese ole Dat's what Ah say 'bout dese ole women runnin' after young boys." women runnin' after young boys."

Common ThemesCommon Themes

ChivalryChivalry This theme reflected southern culture This theme reflected southern culture

where women were treated with where women were treated with respect and were delicate flowers to respect and were delicate flowers to be doted upon.(ideally)be doted upon.(ideally)

Some of the best American romance Some of the best American romance novels are written by Southern novels are written by Southern authors because of this utopian authors because of this utopian romanticism. i.e. Gone With The Windromanticism. i.e. Gone With The Wind

Themes Continued Themes Continued

Values and MoralsValues and Morals Many values and morals in southern Many values and morals in southern

literature are a result of a strong literature are a result of a strong Christian influence especially of the Christian influence especially of the rigid Baptist church.rigid Baptist church.

Family values are also very Family values are also very prominent. Usually this theme is prominent. Usually this theme is presented from a traditional presented from a traditional standpoint.standpoint.

A Writing CultureA Writing Culture

“ “the South, perhaps more than any the South, perhaps more than any other region, we go back to our other region, we go back to our home in dreams and memories, home in dreams and memories, hoping it remains what it was on a hoping it remains what it was on a lazy, still summer's day twenty years lazy, still summer's day twenty years ago” (1)ago” (1)

- Willie Morris- Willie Morris

Southern PoetrySouthern Poetry

““Like our folks, poetry here is hillbilly and Like our folks, poetry here is hillbilly and gentry, down-home and intellectual, neighborly gentry, down-home and intellectual, neighborly and reclusive, generous and vengeful—like and reclusive, generous and vengeful—like folks everywhere, I guess—but with a more folks everywhere, I guess—but with a more colorful vernacular and hand-rubbed vowels.colorful vernacular and hand-rubbed vowels.””                —Wendy Carlisle(8)                —Wendy Carlisle(8)

Southern Poetry was often written by men. Southern Poetry was often written by men. Some talented southern poets include: Edgar Some talented southern poets include: Edgar Allen Poe, Sidney Lanier, James Weldon Allen Poe, Sidney Lanier, James Weldon Johnson, John Crowe Ransom and many more. Johnson, John Crowe Ransom and many more.

Poetry ContinuedPoetry Continued

Surprisingly, Southern poetry is very Surprisingly, Southern poetry is very similar to other poetry. However there similar to other poetry. However there were some very unique poets from the were some very unique poets from the south like Edgar Allen Poe:south like Edgar Allen Poe:

OONCE upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak NCE upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, forgotten lore, While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. " 'Tis some rapping, rapping at my chamber door. " 'Tis some visiter," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door — visiter," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door —                                         Only this, and nothing more.”                                         Only this, and nothing more.” (Edgar Allen Poe, (Edgar Allen Poe, The RavenThe Raven))

Southern Gothic WritingSouthern Gothic Writing

““Southern gothic, a genre of the Southern gothic, a genre of the American South, retreats from the American South, retreats from the dark castles and clanking chains of dark castles and clanking chains of 19th-century European literature to 19th-century European literature to embrace the moody romance, mystery, embrace the moody romance, mystery, terror, and grotesqueries”(4).terror, and grotesqueries”(4).

Examples: William Faulkner’s “A Rose Examples: William Faulkner’s “A Rose For Mary”, and novels by Eudora For Mary”, and novels by Eudora WeltyWelty..

Great Southern NovelsGreat Southern Novels

To Kill a MockingbirdTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee by Harper Lee Invisible Man by RalphInvisible Man by Ralph Ellison Ellison The Color PurpleThe Color Purple by Alice Walker by Alice Walker Gone With The WindGone With The Wind by Margaret by Margaret

MitchellMitchell In Cold BloodIn Cold Blood by Truman Capote by Truman Capote The Mind of The SouthThe Mind of The South by Wilbur by Wilbur

CashCash

Great Southern WritersGreat Southern WritersThere are numerous famous southern There are numerous famous southern

authors. Each person had different authors. Each person had different life experiences, thus they wrote and life experiences, thus they wrote and included varying themes in their included varying themes in their books. Themes vary from reader to books. Themes vary from reader to reader but prominent ones in reader but prominent ones in southern works include: injustice, southern works include: injustice, prejudice, standing up for your prejudice, standing up for your beliefs and many more.beliefs and many more.

Margaret MitchellMargaret Mitchell

Margaret grew up hearing stories Margaret grew up hearing stories of war and wishing she was a of war and wishing she was a boy so she could fight. As a boy so she could fight. As a young adult, Margaret young adult, Margaret Mitchell’s mother passed away Mitchell’s mother passed away while she was attending college. while she was attending college. She went back home to be with She went back home to be with her family, but had great her family, but had great difficulty getting along with her difficulty getting along with her father due to her independent father due to her independent nature. nature.

Displayed in Displayed in Gone With The Wind Gone With The Wind (Scarlett) (Scarlett)

William FaulknerWilliam Faulkner

Many say William’s short stories Many say William’s short stories resembled his life. They included resembled his life. They included struggles with rage, alcoholism, struggles with rage, alcoholism, and adultery. Each of these and adultery. Each of these hardships were sadly common in hardships were sadly common in Southern America during the 1920s Southern America during the 1920s through 1950s and even today. His through 1950s and even today. His works were famous in the South works were famous in the South and encouraged many more and encouraged many more southern novels. southern novels.

Flannery O’ConnorFlannery O’ConnorReligion was a key factor in her life Religion was a key factor in her life

and thus reflected in her writing. and thus reflected in her writing. She devout Roman Catholic but She devout Roman Catholic but many of the characters in her many of the characters in her books were Protestant. books were Protestant.

““It was her observation that It was her observation that Protestants expressed their faith Protestants expressed their faith through dramatic action, through dramatic action, something she did not see in something she did not see in Catholics” (7).Catholics” (7).

Impact of Southern Impact of Southern Writing on The Literary Writing on The Literary

WorldWorldWith the arousal of southern literature With the arousal of southern literature came a new more authentic style of came a new more authentic style of writing. They went against the grain by writing. They went against the grain by using small town issues and “average using small town issues and “average joe” dialect that made “their” South come joe” dialect that made “their” South come to life. Many novels also aided in to life. Many novels also aided in awareness on issues like racism and awareness on issues like racism and poverty. With the unassuming grace of poverty. With the unassuming grace of the great south these authors have the great south these authors have enlightened us on a culture filled with enlightened us on a culture filled with romanticism and lamentable family romanticism and lamentable family values.values.

BibliographyBibliography1. http://www.clarke.public.lib.ga.us/pathfinders/southernauthors/

swriters.html2. http://www.fofweb.com/Lit/default.asp?ItemID=WE54

3.3. http://www.southernlitreview.com/authors/http://www.southernlitreview.com/authors/margaret_mitchell.htm margaret_mitchell.htm

4.4. http://www.ageefilms.org/southern_books.html http://www.ageefilms.org/southern_books.html

5.5. http://www.southernspaces.org/contents/2004/mackethan/http://www.southernspaces.org/contents/2004/mackethan/5a.v2.htm5a.v2.htm

6.6. http://www.wisegeek.comhttp://www.wisegeek.com

7.7. http://southernlitreview.com/authors/flannery_oconnor.htmhttp://southernlitreview.com/authors/flannery_oconnor.htm

8.8. http://www.storysouth.com/poetry_features/2006/01/http://www.storysouth.com/poetry_features/2006/01/women_intro.html women_intro.html

9.9. http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780060838676/http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780060838676/Their_Eyes_Were_Watching_God/excerpt.aspx Their_Eyes_Were_Watching_God/excerpt.aspx