A MERICAN A UTHORS Midcentury Voices

M IDCENTURY V OICES – J AMES T HURBER 1894 – 1961 American humorist of the 20 th 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.

M IDCENTURY V OICES – R OBERT F ROST 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.

F ROST L ITERARY T ERMS “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.