4. Flannery O'Connor, Wise Blood (cont.)

The American Novel Since 1945 (ENGL 291)In this second lecture on Flannery O'Connor's Wise Blood, Professor Amy Hungerford continues to offer several specific contexts in which to read and understand the novel. Having used O'Connor's letters to delve into her theological commitments in the previous lecture, Professor Hungerford now explores the southern social context, particularly with respect to race and gender, and the New Critical writing program of which O'Connor was a product. Hungerford finally suggests that O'Connor's writing illuminates the important--and perhaps undertheorized--link between the institutionalization of formal unity by the New Critics, and their strong religious influences.00:00 - Chapter 1. On the Depiction of Women: Fragmented Bodies and Southern Society07:36 - Chapter 2. Modes of Violence: Abused Children, Police Brutality, and Racism16:52 - Chapter 3. Exploring the Narrative Purpose of Violent Imagery: The Question of Sympathy24:13 - Chapter 4. Returning to a Theological Structure: A Close Reading of Chapter Seven35:36 - Chapter 5. New Criticism and the Institutionalization of ModernismComplete course materials are available at the Open Yale Courses website: http://open.yale.edu/coursesThis course was recorded in Spring 2008. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices