AMERICAN AUTHORSMidcentury Voices

MIDCENTURY VOICES – JAMES THURBER 1894 – 1961 American humorist of the 20th century

Defined humor as “a kind of emotional chaos told about calmly and quietly in retrospect.”

Cartoonist / writer (essays, sketches, and stories)

Born in Columbus, Ohio (attended OSU) His favorite novel: The Great Gatsby His work focuses on the “little man,” who

can’t quite assert himself in a confusing world, where women seemed surer of their way.

Viewed women with a certain ambivalence – as intimidating to their mates, and as mother figures rather than partners.

THURBER – THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY LITERARY TERMS (PG. 708 – 711) Parody

Work that makes fun of another work by imitating or exaggerating aspects of its style and content.

Stream of Consciousness Writing that attempts to imitate the moment-by-

moment flow of a character’s perceptions and memories An escape from reality through daydreaming and

images, however, triggered back to reality by something around you.

MIDCENTURY VOICES – ROBERT FROST

1874 – 1963 Although born in San Francisco,

mostly identified with New England, where he grew up.

Known as a nature poet Earned a living as a schoolteacher

and editor, before deciding to try farming. Took his family to England in 1912, where he remained

for three years. Here, he met English poets, and completed 2 volumes of

poetry Remained traditional but unique; however, unaffected

by the Modernism movement.

FROSTLITERARY TERMS “Design” (Pg. 719)

Sonnet 14-line lyric poem that is usually written in a fixed

meter and with a regular rhyme scheme

“Nothing Gold Can Stay” (Pg. 721) Allusion

Reference (direct or indirect) to someone or something outside a literary work.

Can refer to another work of literature / events / persons in history, art, or contemporary life.