It is evident that O’Connor uses the literary tools characterization, setting, and symbolism in two of her most famous short stories, “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” and “Revelation”, in order to have the greatest impact on her readers. Born on March 25, 1925, in Savannah, Georgia, Mary Flannery O'Connor “is considered one of the best short story authors of the 20th century” (A&E Television Networks). O’Connor wrote an abundant amount of short stories during her lifetime. “She wrote about religious themes and southern life” (A&E Television Networks). In most of her works, O’Connor describes the scenery and lifestyle of the Deep South and her characters speak with a southern dialect, reflecting her background.
While the book is autobiographical in nature, this particular excerpt is much discussed amongst literary circles because of Angelou's use of both objective and subjective narration. "Graduation" is an excerpt of the autobiographical book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, written by Maya Angelou. While the book is autobiographical in nature, this particular excerpt is much discussed amongst literary circles because of Angelou's use of both objective and subjective narration. Objective narration describes the culture of Angelou's local community, Stamps Arkansas. The passage depicts the entire community of Stamps preparing for, and experiencing, graduation ceremonies at the local black schools.
This story portrays stereotypes, racism, and struggles, which relate to the previous books Malcolm X and Birth of a nation. The struggles that blacks went through definitely makes me appreciate how far people have evolved and the era that I live in. A Worn Path would be read from a third-person’s viewpoint. As you read the tale it allows you to picture it from a distance and let the readers interpret the reading in their own perspective. “unimaginable in any hands but hers” (Fitzgerald 494).
Yet Hurston's biographer, Robert E. Hemenway asserts in his essay "Crayon Enlargements of Life" that "[Hurston's] fiction represented the processes of folkloric transmission, emphasizing the ways of thinking and speaking which grew from the folk environment" (81). Like Toomer, Hurston used the materials of the Southern small-town folk ways, language, folktales, and gossip to represent African Americans in their purest sense, without censor or fear of backlash. She was asserting her own right as a creative producer to authenticate and validate the experiences with which she grew up. Given the political and social changes that were occurring within America and the Black community during the early twentieth century,
Because of the history of this large continent, which includes the forceful transplanting of the people into slavery on other continents, many of the same folk tales exist in North America, South America, and the West Indies. These are told with little variation, for the tales were spread by word of mouth and were kept among the African population. In addition to the folk tales, there are myths, legends, many proverbs, tongue twisters, and riddles. Anansi Anansi, the Spider, is one of the major trickster figures in African folk tales. This spider can be wise, foolish, amusing, or even lazy--but always there is a lesson to be learned from Anansi.
Self-love and racism play a very important role in Zora Neale Hurston's “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” The theme of love with her Granny was force upon Janie and finding love within her was described as a pear tree and the horizon. Janie spent her days looking for passionate love in three different marriages. With the character of Mrs. Turner, she shows how everyone is racist in the world, and she is black herself but don’t want to realize it because she’s biracial. Hurston’s theme of “Their Eyes Were Watching God” was based on the Harlem Renaissance and was shown dramatically throughout of the book. First, the theme of love with her Granny was force upon Janie and finding love within her was described as a pear tree and the horizon.
Discrimination The existence of discrimination has and always will be a prevalent topic in our society. The protagonists in the stories “The Handicapped” by Randolph Bourne, “The Ethics of Living Jim Crow” by Richard Wright and “How It Feels to Be Colored Me” by Zora Neale Hurston are all victims of some form of discrimination. There are many reasons that an individual might experience bias. Discrimination can be based on one’s race, religious affiliation, appearance or sexual orientation. In the essays “Ethics of Living Jim Crow” and “How It Feels to Be Colored Me” both of the main characters are discriminated against because of their race.
“How it feels to be colored me” The essay “How it feels to be colored me” was written in 1928 by Zora Neal Hurston. The writing is informative of her life as a child. We get a clear message of the racial tension between whites and coloreds. Hurston’s writing gives advice that finds value with anybody. Her maturity and positive attitude through the different ordeals in life, situations is infectious.
However, later they both where awarded, The National American Book Award for their hard work, enthusiasm and their potential, so the black community voices can be heard. Even to this time they are still well known literature writers that will always have a significant impact of the feminist movement. The society being an area of destruction during the fifties through the nineties time was difficult for those in the black community. Such as, the Black Aesthetics movement, civil war, and the article on Soyinka that many black educators found eager. It was someone liked Soyinka; who ignited conversations with others that brought change for the black community.
Oroonoko: Portrayal of Slavery and Colonialism Aphra Behn’s Oroonoko is often viewed as one earliest forms of literature that looks at the pressing issue of slavery. Upon reading Oroonoko, you receive a cloudy view on her view on slavery. One has to dig in deep to examine her rationale and criticism of the slave trade. She often portrays Europeans and their culture in a negative light. Throughout this work, we learn that the narrator is the daughter of the high-ranking Englishman who was “Lieutenant-General of six and thirty islands, besides the Continent of Surinam.” The narrator is clearly of a higher class.