1. Tekstanalyse og –historie (Spring 2009) Session Two: Drama II. LeRoi Jones’ Dutchman and American Prose after 1945

2. Agenda The dramatic universe The dramatic universe Group work: The Dutchman Group work: The Dutchman American literary projects in the 19th and 20th centuries: Mark Twain, Susan Glaspell and LeRoi Jones American literary projects in the 19th and 20th centuries: Mark Twain, Susan Glaspell and LeRoi Jones

3. The Dramatic Universe Drama vs narrative Drama vs narrative

4. The Specificity of Dramatic Texts: A Summary of Key Concepts Stage directions: characters, setting, placement of actors, historical setting, props, visual appearance, audio-visual appearance, actions Stage directions: characters, setting, placement of actors, historical setting, props, visual appearance, audio-visual appearance, actions Dialogue Dialogue

5. The Dutchman: Group Work Themes, thematics, and arguments: What the thematics and theme(s) of the play? What the thematics and theme(s) of the play? Does the play have a point? Does it try to convince us about something? Does the play have a point? Does it try to convince us about something?

6. The Dutchman: Group Work Title: Title: Why is the play called Dutchman? Why is the play called Dutchman? Setting: time and place: Setting: time and place: Where and when does the play take place? Why? Where and when does the play take place? Why?

7. The Dutchman Characters and characterisation: Characters and characterisation: Motivation. What does the play tell us about why the characters act and speak in the way they do? How? Motivation. What does the play tell us about why the characters act and speak in the way they do? How? What does the play tell us about the relations between the characters, for instance, the relations of race, gender, and power? How? What does the play tell us about the relations between the characters, for instance, the relations of race, gender, and power? How? What is signified by their names? Why are some of the characters anonymous? What is signified by their names? Why are some of the characters anonymous?

8. The Dutchman Action and dialogue: what is signified by the actions and speech of the characters? What is signified by Clay’s major speech in scene two (2312-13)? what is signified by the actions and speech of the characters? What is signified by Clay’s major speech in scene two (2312-13)?

9. The Dutchman Imagery, symbols, metaphors, allegory: Does the text invite us to read it realistically or symbolically? Does the text invite us to read it realistically or symbolically?

10. The Dutchman Plot: Outline significant events, reversals, shifts in the action Outline significant events, reversals, shifts in the action Do we find a five fold pattern of exposition, complication, reversal, recognition, and resolution? Do we find a five fold pattern of exposition, complication, reversal, recognition, and resolution? Are we dealing with a comedy or tragedy? Are we dealing with a comedy or tragedy? What is the significance of the ending of the play? What is the significance of the ending of the play?

11. American literary projects in the 19th and 20th centuries Pre-1960: Desire for national unity and cultural homogeneity: the essence of America – the American way of life: Mark Twain, Sara Orne Jewett and the American short story and the great American novel Pre-1960: Desire for national unity and cultural homogeneity: the essence of America – the American way of life: Mark Twain, Sara Orne Jewett and the American short story and the great American novel

12. American literary projects in the 19th and 20th centuries Post-1960: Against national conformity - conflicts along the lines of ethnicity (and gender): Jewish, African, Asian, Native, Latino, Italian, Irish Americans Sexual identity, gender, disability, region, religion, class