Bøger af Claudia Durst Johnson

When the matriarch of the Bundren family dies, her family must confront the daunting task of transporting her body across the state of Mississippi for burial in her hometown. As they embark on this journey, with the coffin in tow, they face several trials and tribulations that not only complicate their travel but also highlight the innate dysfunction of the family's complex dynamic. This comprehensive volume explores the themes of William Faulkner's As I Lay Dying through the lens of family dysfunction, offering readers a critical look at the intersection between literature and sociology. The book examines Faulkner's life and influences and explores concepts such as the role of maternal influence and sibling rivalry within the novel and within the broader context of society. Chapters also offer a contemporary perspective on family dysfunction through discussion of topics such as the effects of emotional neglect and the role of maternal instincts.

"Colonialism in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness: Background on Joseph Conrad; Colonialism in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness; Contemporary Perspectives on Colonialism"--

This informative edition explores the poetry of Langston Hughes through the lens of race. Coverage includes an examination of Hughes's life and influences; a look at key ideas related to race in Hughes's poetry, including the influence of African-American music, the use of poetry to address racial problems, and the politics of Hughes's anti-lynching poems; and contemporary perspectives on race, such as the decline of civil rights reform and the role of hip-hop in shaping black music.

One of Kurt Vonnegut's most influential works, Slaughterhouse-Five is a science fiction-inspired tale that touches upon the experiences of Billy Pilgrim, an American soldier, in the time before, during, and after World War II. This compelling edition presents readers with a collection of essays on the theme of war as depicted in the novel. Topics discussed include the moral problem of Billy's fantasies, Billy's time-traveling as a psychological phenomenon, and deconstructing the war novel. The book also explores modern perspectives regarding war such as PTSD, child soldiers, and military secrecy.

First published in 1847, Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre follows the title character through her journey into womanhood, shedding critical insight into the roles morality, love, and independence play in the Victorian world. Although the novel received lukewarm reception from its contemporary critics, Bronte's sharp analysis of society, and the proto-feminist messages embedded within the text, were in many ways ahead of their time. This critical volume offers readers a compelling collection of essays related to the topic of women's independence as they relate to Jane Eyre. The book also discusses the life and work of Charlotte Bronte, and presents contemporary perspectives on issues related to women's rights and independence, such as ownership of finance, the case against marriage, and the prospect of a matriarchal society.

A collection of essays discuss issues of gender, ethnicity, family, and class in Cisneros's novel.

Collection of essays discussing whether Mark Twain's book is racist, the issue of race in the novel itself, and race relations in 21st century America.

Responding directly to the era of U.S. politics known as McCarthyism, Arthur Miller's 1953 play The Crucible positions the Salem witch trials at the center of a narrative that seeks to dance with and around questions of justice, power, and suspicion. This compelling edition presents readers with an insight into Arthur Miller's life, work, and inspirations, with a specific eye toward his writing of The Crucible. Readers are invited to explore the theme of justice through a series of essays, from writers and figures such as Michael Moore and Andy Worthington, that present varying viewpoints on the play's subject matter and tackle ideas such as the misuse of the legal system and the relationship between religion and the courtrooms. Perspectives on modern-day issues pertaining to justice are presented for consideration, allowing readers to link the themes of the play to the issues of the present.

When an extramarital affair with a minister results in a child, Hester Pryne is publically shamed and ostracized by her community in Puritan Boston. Her subsequent attempts at a quiet life are complicated by a vengeful husband, her rambunctious daughter, her refusal to name the father of her child, and finally, by a desperate attempt to escape from Boston. This compelling edition takes a critical look at Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter through the lens of women's issues. The text presents readers with a biographical snapshot of the author and examines women's issues in the novel. Essays discuss topics such as feminism in the nineteenth century, forced marriage, and the subservience of women. The text also provides contemporary perspectives on current women's issues, creating a dialogue between the events of the text and the world of today.

Jane Austen pioneered the modern novel by focusing on realistic depictions of ordinary people, with an eye toward unraveling the social structures that ruled Victorian England. This volume explores the role of class in Jane Austen's life and in Pride and Prejudice, providing a critical background on the life of the author and the influences that shaped her writing. Ten articles explore topics such as the rapidly changing class structures in Britain during the time of the novel, and what class meant for women. The book also includes twenty-first-century perspectives on the intersection of class and gender. Contributors include Emily Auerbach, Terry Eagleton, and Sarah Mahoney.

One of the most influential works in the canon of black American literature, Maya Angelou's autobiographical work I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings offers readers a frank and inspirational personal portrait of what it means to overcome and move past personal trauma and racism. This compelling edition provides readers with an in-depth biography of the author and presents a series of essays that discuss racism as it relates to Angelou's work. Topics include race and gender, humor and folklore, and death and rebirth. Modern perspectives on the issue of racism are presented as well, allowing readers to connect the themes of the text to the world of today.

Examining Jack London's "The Call of the Wild", this book explores the complex relationships between man and nature, and animals' struggle with their own nature in man's world. Chapters focus on topics such as animal welfare, contextualizing these issues with primary documents.

The first book-length study of Harper Lee's two novels, this is the ultimate reference for those interested in Harper Lee's writing, most notably as it considers race, class, and gender. To Kill a Mockingbird is timeless, continuing to be a favorite among both students and adults.

Gang culture is one of the most volatile issues to have impacted young people throughout history and around the world. By focusing on the fictional representation of youth gangs, this work presents a unique perspective on an all-too-real phenomenon and its many manifestations. Organized chronologically and topically, the volume begins with a powerful essay tracing the origins and developments of youth gangs, from the early days of the Wild West to immigration gangs in 19th- and 20th-century America and the Twenty chapters, each introduced with a primary document, fully explore the different types of gangs, identifying their time, place, struggles, and demographic character. Included are the early gangs of New York City, prison gangs, Asian gangs, school gangs, African American gangs, and girl gangs. Each chapter analyzes one or more works of fiction in terms of its thematic message and the light it sheds on the nature of the depicted gang situation. The examined fiction will be of special interest to students and educators, and includes works often found on assigned reading lists, such as The Chocolate War, The Outsiders, and Lord of the Flies. Popular works, such as Gangs of New York, provide an historical perspective on early immigrant gangs, while presenting timeless themes of identity struggles that resonate for young people everywhere. In addition to the literary works and primary documents, suggestions for additional titles and sources for further information on the topics are offered.

The daily newspaper headlines revealing deaths, illnesses, and injuries in the workplace, along with the ongoing decline of workers' rights, make this book an especially timely volume. Included are chapters devoted to such widely read texts as Hard Times, Life in the Iron Mills, Bartleby the Scrivener, The Grapes of Wrath, and several others. Each chapter examines the historical background and plot of the work, the labor and workplace issues raised by the author, and the history of those issues since the text was published. Just a few of the issues raised are low wages, long hours, workplace dangers, unemployment, sexual harassment, and the struggle of immigrants. Each chapter provides topics for research and discussion, and cites works for further reading. The volume closes with a selected, general bibliography.The volume discusses such issues as low wages, long hours, workplace dangers, unemployment, sexual harassment, lack of job security or medical care, and the struggle of immigrants. Each chapter closes with topics for research and discussion, along with a list of works for further reading. An introductory essay examines the consequences of the industrial revolution and the economic philosophies central to society. The volume closes with a selected, general bibliography. Students in literature and social studies classes will value this helpful guide.

This book presents a unique perspective on life in Colonial England, exposing many misconceptions and depicting how elements of its culture that are typically regarded as marginal-such as the activities of pirates-actually had an extensive impact of the populace.The daily lives of most colonial New Englanders were much more colorful and exotic than the drab, pious picture many of us have in mind. Daily Life in Colonial New England exposes as myth much of what we might believe about this era and reveals surprising truths-for example, that sex was openly discussed in Colonial times and was regarded as a welcome necessity of married life, and that women had more legal and marital rights than they did in the 19th century.The book describes topics such as the legal and sexual rights of women, the extent of infant mortality; the lives of underclass citizens who formed the majority in New England, such as indentured servants, African slaves, debtors, and criminals; and the integral role that pirates played in business and employment during the Colonial period. Readers will gain deeper insight into what life during this period was like through accounts of the real terror of being one of the accused in witch hunts and the sympathy that the general population had for dissidents who were questioned and arrested by the government. Primary materials that range from legal documents to sermons, letters, and diaries are used as sources that verify historical ideas and events.

Part Four draws connections between two issues raised by the novel - the unwed mother and the lapsed minister - that remain controversial today and features recent news articles on these issues.

"A solid,... well-written contribution to Hawthorne criticism... The author is thoroughly in control of what has been written about Hawthorne and skillfully places her own work in the context of this scholarship and criticism. So far as I know, she is the first critic to consider the probable influence of the 'perfectionists' on Hawthorne's art." - Roy R. Male, University of Oklahoma

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Throughout nineteenth century America, religious officials often condemned the dramatic theatre as an inversion of the house of God. This book explores the many ways in which religious institutions have had a profound effect on the development of American theatre. It analyzes the church's critical view toward common theatre practices.

Although John Steinbeck's novellas Of Mice and Men, The Red Pony, and The Pearl are works of fiction, they provide a window on the history of the times and places they portray.

The novel has proven to be the premier literary form in the exploration of social ideas and protest. This reference guide offers concise information on 200 landmark novels and their impacts on society throughout history and around the world.

This collection of historical documents, collateral readings, and commentary should promote the interdisciplinary study of Stephen Crane's novel "The Red Badge of Courage", and enrich the reader's understanding of its themes and historical context.

The memoirs in the chapter Mark Twain's Mississippi Valley illuminate the novel's pastoral view of nature in conflict with a violent civilization resting on the institution of slavery and shaped by the genteel code of honor.

For thousands of years, The Odyssey has resonated throughout the Western world. Homer has been an original source of inspiration to writers, painters, sculptors, and filmmakers, as well as a vital source of information about the mythology, history, and culture of ancient Greece. This casebook uniquely blends commentary and primary documents, situating the epic within historical contexts that are important for students to understand.

When The Grapes of Wrath was published in 1939, it had an explosive effect on the public, calling attention to the problems of migrant farm workers during the Great Depression. the legacy of the 1930s-Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers, and working and living conditions of farm workers long after the publication of the novel.