1. Intro to Capote Go ahead…take some notes!

2. As we read… You will be expected to annotate your text You will be expected to annotate your text Either in the text, or with sticky notes. Either in the text, or with sticky notes. Bookmark! Bookmark! Guiding suggestions Guiding suggestions Rubric Rubric Think about the following question: Think about the following question: Can man alone be held responsible for his actions when his environment has relentlessly neglected him?

3. The Bookmark: Themes Nature versus Nurture Nature versus Nurture In particular, Perry Smith. In particular, Perry Smith. How he is portrayed by Capote within this context How he is portrayed by Capote within this context Childhood experiences/true accounts Childhood experiences/true accounts

4. The Bookmark: Themes Retribution Retribution Punishment for a wrongdoing, vengeance. Punishment for a wrongdoing, vengeance. “Why don’t you arrest somebody?” “Why don’t you arrest somebody?”

5. The Bookmark: Themes Sexuality Sexuality Insecurity surrounding sexuality for the two killers Insecurity surrounding sexuality for the two killers Homosexuality (undercurrent within the novel; Capote himself) Homosexuality (undercurrent within the novel; Capote himself)

6. The Bookmark: Themes Fate Fate Capote describes events in great detail, including the small “twists of fate” that lead to the murders. Capote describes events in great detail, including the small “twists of fate” that lead to the murders.

7. The Bookmark: Style Foreshadowing Foreshadowing The details that Capote chooses to identify. The details that Capote chooses to identify.

8. The Bookmark: Style Symbolism Symbolism Largely relates to Perry Smith Largely relates to Perry Smith “bubbles in his blood”; actual blood is boiling “bubbles in his blood”; actual blood is boiling

9. The Bookmark: Style Verisimilitude: Verisimilitude: The appearance of truth, actuality, or reality; what seems to be true in fiction. The appearance of truth, actuality, or reality; what seems to be true in fiction. How Capote portrays the small-town: documentary- style realism. How Capote portrays the small-town: documentary- style realism. Capote never claimed In Cold Blood as “pure journalism” Capote never claimed In Cold Blood as “pure journalism” Often credited with establishing the True Crime genre. Often credited with establishing the True Crime genre. Literary nonfiction, the New Journalism, and literary journalism. Literary nonfiction, the New Journalism, and literary journalism.

10. The Bookmark: Style Motifs Motifs Repetition of character-specific motifs Repetition of character-specific motifs Reminders of the nature of the subjects Reminders of the nature of the subjects The dark, open road The dark, open road

11. Gothic Literature Grows out of ROMANTICISM emphasizes intuition, passion, mysticism leads into the supernatural emphasizes intuition, passion, mysticism leads into the supernatural emphasizes the individual especially the unusual protagonist emphasizes the individual especially the unusual protagonist is interested in the past and exotic, faraway places is interested in the past and exotic, faraway places Lacks optimism; often associated with the dark side of Lacks optimism; often associated with the dark side of people people Got its name from the settings, usually Gothic architecture Got its name from the settings, usually Gothic architecture such as castles and cathedrals such as castles and cathedrals Representative author = Edgar Allen Poe Representative author = Edgar Allen Poe Probably the most famous Gothic novel is Frankenstein. Probably the most famous Gothic novel is Frankenstein. grotesque characters, bizarre situations grotesque characters, bizarre situations strange of terrifying events, and gloomy or run-down settings strange of terrifying events, and gloomy or run-down settings

12. The Bookmark: Southern Gothic Unusual because it is region specific. Unusual because it is region specific. Takes elements of Gothic style and places them in a Southern environment. Takes elements of Gothic style and places them in a Southern environment. Generally avoids the supernatural element, and focuses instead of the warped personality. Generally avoids the supernatural element, and focuses instead of the warped personality. Often deals with those ostracized or afflicted by Southern culture/values. Often deals with those ostracized or afflicted by Southern culture/values. Race/Homosexuality/Women Race/Homosexuality/Women

13. The Bookmark: Capital Punishment Waited to finish the book until the hanging of Smith and Hickock (April 14, 1965) Waited to finish the book until the hanging of Smith and Hickock (April 14, 1965) Capote’s negative view of Capital Punishment Capote’s negative view of Capital Punishment Not in any way neutral throughout the text Not in any way neutral throughout the text Clearly against it Clearly against it Interesting legal fact: this occurred before the Miranda Supreme Court Decision (1966) Interesting legal fact: this occurred before the Miranda Supreme Court Decision (1966)

14. Other things to take note of… Loss on Individualism Loss on Individualism Loss of Innocence Loss of Innocence Communism – threats to democracy Communism – threats to democracy East vs. West East vs. West Masking society’s flaws Masking society’s flaws Religion Religion Conformity Conformity American morality American morality Violence Violence Fear of the Unknown – Cold War, Space Age Fear of the Unknown – Cold War, Space Age Evolution of the family unit Evolution of the family unit Reality vs. Perception Reality vs. Perception Immigration Immigration WWII WWII Disillusionment Disillusionment Abuse Abuse Neglect Neglect Humiliation Humiliation Rebellion Rebellion Fate Fate Isolation / Nonconformity Isolation / Nonconformity Homosexuality Homosexuality Escapism / Aimlessness Escapism / Aimlessness Idealism vs. Reality Idealism vs. Reality Racism Racism

15. Truman Capote (1924-1984) Born in New Orleans, LA Born in New Orleans, LA Truman Streckfus Persons Truman Streckfus Persons Buddies with Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird) Buddies with Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird) She was with him in Holcomb She was with him in Holcomb Openly homosexual: Jack Dunphy Openly homosexual: Jack Dunphy Never achieved the height of In Cold Blood again. Never achieved the height of In Cold Blood again.