1. American Southern Literature

2. Southern Literature 101 “ ‘Southern literature’ announces the conjunction of the U.S. South and an expressive art—texts identified as belonging to a particular history, social organization, and cultural imaginary” (5).

3.  Much of what is known as southern literature was written between 1830s and 1960s. During this period in history, the South and North portions of the United States were beginning to show signs of disunity. Southerners wanted to separate themselves from the Northerners, thus they chose to write entirely different works.  “… and writers and readers of the South correspondingly defined themselves against the place (the North) or the ideology (Anti-Slavery, Industrial Capitalism) that they saw themselves as different from” (5).

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

5. Influences in Southern Writing Slavery Slavery Civil War Civil War Segregation Segregation Revolution in culture Revolution in culture Poverty Poverty Military/ War Military/ War

6. Elements of Southern Writing Style Dialect Writing Not used often in other writings because it is viewed as condescending to the race or ethnicity being portrayed. Not used often in other writings because it is viewed as condescending to the race or ethnicity being portrayed. Popular in Southern writing and incorporates local speech and patterns i.e. ain’t, y’all etc. and misspelling of words to display meaning i.e. yuh (you) and lak (like) Popular in Southern writing and incorporates local speech and patterns i.e. ain’t, y’all etc. and misspelling of words to display meaning i.e. yuh (you) and lak (like)

7. Dialect Writing Cont. Examples of books with dialect writing: Tom Sawyer Tom Sawyer To Kill a Mockingbird To Kill a Mockingbird Their Eyes Were Watching God Their Eyes Were Watching God Huck Finn Huck Finn The Color Purple The Color Purple

8. Examples of Dialect Writing Excerpts from Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston Excerpts from Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston "At dat she ain't so ole as some of y'all dat's talking." "She ain't even worth talkin' after," Lulu Moss drawled through her nose. "She sits high, but she looks low. Dat's what Ah say 'bout dese ole women runnin' after young boys."

9. Common Themes Chivalry This theme reflected southern culture where women were treated with respect and were delicate flowers to be doted upon.(ideally) This theme reflected southern culture where women were treated with respect and were delicate flowers to be doted upon.(ideally) Some of the best American romance novels are written by Southern authors because of this utopian romanticism. i.e. Gone With The Wind Some of the best American romance novels are written by Southern authors because of this utopian romanticism. i.e. Gone With The Wind

10. Themes Continued Values and Morals Many values and morals in southern literature are a result of a strong Christian influence especially of the rigid Baptist church. Many values and morals in southern literature are a result of a strong Christian influence especially of the rigid Baptist church. Family values are also very prominent. Usually this theme is presented from a traditional standpoint. Family values are also very prominent. Usually this theme is presented from a traditional standpoint.

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

12. Southern Gothic Writing “Southern gothic, a genre of the American South, retreats from the dark castles and clanking chains of 19th-century European literature to embrace the moody romance, mystery, terror, and grotesqueries”(4). “Southern gothic, a genre of the American South, retreats from the dark castles and clanking chains of 19th-century European literature to embrace the moody romance, mystery, terror, and grotesqueries”(4). Examples: William Faulkner’s “A Rose For Mary”, and novels by Eudora Welty. Examples: William Faulkner’s “A Rose For Mary”, and novels by Eudora Welty.

13. Background Sub genre of the Gothic Genre Sub genre of the Gothic Genre Popular in Europe in the 1800’s Popular in Europe in the 1800’s Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Dracula by Bram Stoker Dracula by Bram Stoker Unique to American literature Unique to American literature Relies on the supernatural, ironic or unusual events to guide the plot. Relies on the supernatural, ironic or unusual events to guide the plot. Uses these to explore social issues and to reveal the cultural character of the American South Uses these to explore social issues and to reveal the cultural character of the American South

14. Background Takes classic Gothic archetypes, such as the monster or the heroic knight, and turns them into American Southerners. Example: Spiteful reclusive spinster; an uneducated drunk, a quiet, wise lawyer. Takes classic Gothic archetypes, such as the monster or the heroic knight, and turns them into American Southerners. Example: Spiteful reclusive spinster; an uneducated drunk, a quiet, wise lawyer. Most notable is the “grotesque” Most notable is the “grotesque” A character whose negative qualities allow the author to highlight unpleasant aspects of southern culture. A character whose negative qualities allow the author to highlight unpleasant aspects of southern culture. Something in the town, the house, the farm is bizarre and often falling apart. Something in the town, the house, the farm is bizarre and often falling apart.

15. Defining Feature Cast off-killer characters Cast off-killer characters Broken bodies or souls—used symbolize problems created by the established pattern. Also used to question established pattern’s morality and ethical justification. Broken bodies or souls—used symbolize problems created by the established pattern. Also used to question established pattern’s morality and ethical justification. The “innocent” is a common character, who may or may not be “broken,” but often acts as a redeemer for others. The “innocent” is a common character, who may or may not be “broken,” but often acts as a redeemer for others.

16. Other Features of the Southern Gothic Freakishness Freakishness Outsider Outsider Imprisonment Imprisonment Violence Violence Sense of Place Sense of Place

17. Freakishness In most Southern gothic stories, there is an important character who is set apart from the world but in a negative by. In most Southern gothic stories, there is an important character who is set apart from the world but in a negative by. This character might have a disability or an odd or often negative way of seeing the world. This character might have a disability or an odd or often negative way of seeing the world.

18. Outsider Southern novels are filled with characters who are set apart from the established cultural pattern, but who end up being heroes because their differences allow them to see new ways of doing things that ultimately help to bring people out of the ‘dark’ Southern novels are filled with characters who are set apart from the established cultural pattern, but who end up being heroes because their differences allow them to see new ways of doing things that ultimately help to bring people out of the ‘dark’

19. Imprisonment This is often both literal and figurative This is often both literal and figurative Many Southern gothic tales include and incident where a character is sent to jail or locked up Many Southern gothic tales include and incident where a character is sent to jail or locked up There are also Southern gothic characters that live in ‘fates’ prison. There are also Southern gothic characters that live in ‘fates’ prison.

20. Violence Racial, social, and class difference often create underlying tension in Southern gothic novels that threatens, and usually does, erupt in violent ways. Racial, social, and class difference often create underlying tension in Southern gothic novels that threatens, and usually does, erupt in violent ways.

21. Sense of Place You cannot read a Southern gothic novel without understanding what a Southern town ‘feels’ like: You cannot read a Southern gothic novel without understanding what a Southern town ‘feels’ like: Old, small towns Old, small towns Houses have front porches with rocking chairs Houses have front porches with rocking chairs Old downtown with stately but worn-down buildings. Old downtown with stately but worn-down buildings.

22. Great Southern Novels To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison The Color Purple by Alice Walker The Color Purple by Alice Walker Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell In Cold Blood by Truman Capote In Cold Blood by Truman Capote The Mind of The South by Wilbur Cash The Mind of The South by Wilbur Cash

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

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

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

26. Flannery O’Connor Religion was a key factor in her life and thus reflected in her writing. She devout Roman Catholic but many of the characters in her books were Protestant. “It was her observation that Protestants expressed their faith through dramatic action, something she did not see in Catholics” (7).

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

28. Bibliography 1. http://www.clarke.public.lib.ga.us/pathfinders/southernauthors/swriters.html http://www.clarke.public.lib.ga.us/pathfinders/southernauthors/swriters.html 2. http://www.fofweb.com/Lit/default.asp?ItemID=WE54 http://www.fofweb.com/Lit/default.asp?ItemID=WE54 3. http://www.southernlitreview.com/authors/margaret_mitchell.htm http://www.southernlitreview.com/authors/margaret_mitchell.htm 4. http://www.ageefilms.org/southern_books.html http://www.ageefilms.org/southern_books.html 5. http://www.southernspaces.org/contents/2004/mackethan/5a.v2.htm http://www.southernspaces.org/contents/2004/mackethan/5a.v2.htm 6. http://www.wisegeek.com http://www.wisegeek.com 7. http://southernlitreview.com/authors/flannery_oconnor.htm http://southernlitreview.com/authors/flannery_oconnor.htm 8. http://www.storysouth.com/poetry_features/2006/01/women_intro.html http://www.storysouth.com/poetry_features/2006/01/women_intro.html 9. http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780060838676/Their_Eyes_Were_Watchi ng_God/excerpt.aspx http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780060838676/Their_Eyes_Were_Watchi ng_God/excerpt.aspx http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780060838676/Their_Eyes_Were_Watchi ng_God/excerpt.aspx