SEX, POLITICS AND VIOLENCE HOW TO READ LITERATURE LIKE A PROFESSOR

“SHE BEING BRAND” 1926 As I awkwardly read the poem to you (and remember, I get to do this 4 times today so I am way more uncomfortable than you are), circle/underline/highlight words and phrases that give the poem a double meaning. E.E. Cummings takes liberties with grammar/punctuation (style). Think about how/why those liberties might enhance the readers understanding of the double meaning in the poem.

SEX! Basically, innuendo and subtlety is key here! Difference between a “sex scene” in writing and “pornography” in writing. Romance novels are not sex scenes, they are in the second category (and no, I do not want to type that word again…awkward!) Most sex scenes in literature have some sort of symbolic meaning, either to the characters or to the author (author could be making a statement about a time period, people, politics etc., OR trying to get away with writing about something taboo)!

EXAMPLE: WHAT SYMBOLIZES SEX IN THE FOLLOWING SCENE?

IT’S ALL POLITICAL!!! “Nearly all writing is political on some level” (111). There’s political writing where literature tries to influence the “body of politic” and then there is political writing where the author is addressing human problems of the political and social realm with out getting on a soap box!. Most writers are socially conscious and try to incorporate that in their writing to make it more realistic.

VIOLENCE In life, violence can be: Cultural Societal Symbolic Thematic Biblical Shakespearean Romantic Allegorical Transcendent Aggressive

2 CATEGORIES OF VIOLENCE In literature, violence is: Symbolic Metaphorical Character violence: Specific injuries that authors cause characters to inflict upon themselves or others (stabbing, gun shots, drowning, etc.) Authorial Violence: The narrative violence that causes characters harm in general (usually to advance the plot in some way or make a statement, teach a lesson, of some kind) ***Example: “The Red Wedding” from Game of Thrones

“WHERE ARE YOU GOING, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN” If you had to argue that Joyce Carol Oates used sex and violence in her short story to make a political statement, what statement would you argue she is making? Why do you think the violence was not more graphic in the short story? What do you think happened to Connie in the end? Textual evidence to support?

33, 19, 17 The 33rd book of the Old Testament (King James Version and Most Other Forms) is Judges. 19:17 is the passage: “And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, ‘Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?’” Also, coincidentally, Mary French was 19 and was with Charles Schmid (Smitty)when he killed Alleen Rowe ( 15 ). Grethchen Fritz, another victim of Schmid, was 17. Her sister was 13 and both girls disappeared the same night. 33 was also the age of Jesus Christ when he was crucified…hmmmm…