Attaining Victory: Attaining Victory: Louisiana Authors Louisiana Authors & Characters& Characters

Jennifer RossieJennifer Rossie

Andrea WolfeAndrea Wolfe

Melva YoungMelva Young

AuthorsAuthors

Ernest Gaines (1933- )Ernest Gaines (1933- ) Henry Clay Lewis (1825-1850)Henry Clay Lewis (1825-1850) Alice Dunbar Nelson (1875-1935)Alice Dunbar Nelson (1875-1935)

Ernest GainesErnest Gaines

Image from www.louisiana.eduImage from www.louisiana.edu

Illustration by Felix Illustration by Felix Octavius Carr in the Octavius Carr in the original printing of original printing of Henry Clay Lewis’Henry Clay Lewis’

Odd Leaves from the Odd Leaves from the Life of a “Louisiana Life of a “Louisiana Swamp Doctor”Swamp Doctor”

Alice Dunbar NelsonAlice Dunbar Nelson

Image from www.cstustan.eduImage from www.cstustan.edu

Overcoming ConflictOvercoming Conflict

What makes these three authors What makes these three authors unique is their seemingly innate unique is their seemingly innate ability to achieve a positive outcome ability to achieve a positive outcome a difficult predicament or with a a difficult predicament or with a difficult decision. difficult decision.

Overcoming ConflictOvercoming Conflict

Characters:Characters: Each character must overcome conflictEach character must overcome conflict Resolution of the short story or novel Resolution of the short story or novel

involves the character attaining victoryinvolves the character attaining victory Main characters of all three authors’ Main characters of all three authors’

novels must overcome immense external novels must overcome immense external or internal factorsor internal factors

Overcoming ConflictOvercoming Conflict

Authors:Authors: The authors have overcome factors The authors have overcome factors

within themselves.within themselves. Many environmental situations have Many environmental situations have

arisen throughout the authors’ life.arisen throughout the authors’ life.

Ernest GainesErnest Gaines

Born at River Lake Plantation in Point Born at River Lake Plantation in Point Coupee Parish in 1933.Coupee Parish in 1933.

Based fictional setting of Bayonne, LA on Based fictional setting of Bayonne, LA on this plantationthis plantation

Now a writer in residence at Now a writer in residence at Southeastern Louisiana in LafayetteSoutheastern Louisiana in Lafayette

Ernest Gaines:Ernest Gaines:Published WorksPublished Works

Multiple books and short stories– most Multiple books and short stories– most popular include:popular include:

The Autobiography of Miss Jane PittmanThe Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman In My Father’s HouseIn My Father’s House A Gathering of Old MenA Gathering of Old Men A Lesson Before DyingA Lesson Before Dying

Ernest Gaines:Ernest Gaines:Literary AspectsLiterary Aspects

Writes in first person narrativeWrites in first person narrative Writes with multiple viewpointsWrites with multiple viewpoints Racism a major themeRacism a major theme Discarded usual stereotypes of racismDiscarded usual stereotypes of racism Integrated the landscape and cultures of Integrated the landscape and cultures of

south Louisiana throughout his novels south Louisiana throughout his novels and short storiesand short stories

Ernest Gaines: Ernest Gaines: Personal ConflictsPersonal Conflicts

Born in slave quarters on a plantationBorn in slave quarters on a plantation Fifth generation of his family to be born Fifth generation of his family to be born

there, moved to California at 15there, moved to California at 15 Only attended school a few months out of Only attended school a few months out of

the year as a child up to grade sixthe year as a child up to grade six Overcame cultural and educational Overcame cultural and educational

barriers to become a celebrated writerbarriers to become a celebrated writer

Ernest Gaines: Ernest Gaines: Character ConflictsCharacter Conflicts

Each of his characters overcome an Each of his characters overcome an amazingly difficult situation:amazingly difficult situation:

ExEx. A Lesson Before Dying. A Lesson Before Dying Grant and Jefferson – experienced Grant and Jefferson – experienced

immense personal growth due to their immense personal growth due to their interactions interactions

Henry Clay LewisHenry Clay Lewis

Born 1825 in South CarolinaBorn 1825 in South Carolina Entered doctor apprenticeship then Entered doctor apprenticeship then

medical schoolmedical school Settled in Madison Parish near the Settled in Madison Parish near the

Tensas RiverTensas River Died 1850 trying to cross a flooded Died 1850 trying to cross a flooded

bayou to see a patientbayou to see a patient

Henry Clay Lewis: Henry Clay Lewis: Published WorksPublished Works

Published one collection of sketches after Published one collection of sketches after his death entitled his death entitled Odd Leaves from the Odd Leaves from the Life of a Louisiana “Swamp Doctor”Life of a Louisiana “Swamp Doctor”

Some sketches were first published in Some sketches were first published in the the Spirit of the TimesSpirit of the Times, a journal in the , a journal in the 1800s.1800s.

Henry Clay Lewis:Henry Clay Lewis:Literary AspectsLiterary Aspects

Utilized pseudonym – Madison TensasUtilized pseudonym – Madison Tensas Genre was Southwestern HumorGenre was Southwestern Humor Main character involved in harrowing Main character involved in harrowing

situationsituation Dark, often satirical humor used to bring Dark, often satirical humor used to bring

dire situations into a humorous lightdire situations into a humorous light Infused sketches with swampy Infused sketches with swampy

environmentenvironment

Henry Clay Lewis:Henry Clay Lewis:Personal ConflictsPersonal Conflicts

Wanted literary recognition despite using Wanted literary recognition despite using pseudonym to hidepseudonym to hide

Works were autobiographical, main Works were autobiographical, main character, Dr. Tensas, performed some character, Dr. Tensas, performed some scandalous actsscandalous acts

Internal conflict of wanting to hide his true Internal conflict of wanting to hide his true self from his readers and craving their self from his readers and craving their attentionattention

Henry Clay Lewis:Henry Clay Lewis:Character ConflictsCharacter Conflicts

Madison Tensas caught in multiple sticky Madison Tensas caught in multiple sticky situationssituations

Multiple conflicts with the barbaric swamp Multiple conflicts with the barbaric swamp environment and its inhabitantsenvironment and its inhabitants

As following southwestern humor, As following southwestern humor, protagonist overcame these situations protagonist overcame these situations effortlessly and with the use of humoreffortlessly and with the use of humor

Alice Dunbar NelsonAlice Dunbar Nelson

Born 1875 in New OrleansBorn 1875 in New Orleans Light complexion and often passed for Light complexion and often passed for

whitewhite Politically active – supported the Anti-Politically active – supported the Anti-

lynching Billlynching Bill Active in issues that affected African – Active in issues that affected African –

Americans and women in her timeAmericans and women in her time

Alice Dunbar Nelson:Alice Dunbar Nelson:Published WorksPublished Works

Authored short stories, lyric poetry, and Authored short stories, lyric poetry, and Collections include: Collections include: Violets and Other Violets and Other Tales,The Goodness of St. Rocque and Tales,The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories, Other Stories, and and Give Us Each Day: Give Us Each Day: The Diary of Alice Dunbar-NelsonThe Diary of Alice Dunbar-Nelson

Also had multiple fiction and nonfiction Also had multiple fiction and nonfiction articles published in periodicalsarticles published in periodicals

Alice Dunbar Nelson: Alice Dunbar Nelson: Literary AspectsLiterary Aspects

Themes in her writings: racism, roles of Themes in her writings: racism, roles of gender in society and importance of love, gender in society and importance of love, death, war, and nature death, war, and nature

Authored short stories, lyric poetry and Authored short stories, lyric poetry and literary criticismsliterary criticisms

Alice Dunbar Nelson:Alice Dunbar Nelson:Personal ConflictsPersonal Conflicts

Overcame racial issues in New OrleansOvercame racial issues in New Orleans Often passed for white because she had Often passed for white because she had

a lighter complexiona lighter complexion Was an activist for race and gender Was an activist for race and gender

issues in societyissues in society Unable to fully overcome these issues, Unable to fully overcome these issues,

but worked towards positive improvementbut worked towards positive improvement

Alice Dunbar Nelson:Alice Dunbar Nelson:Character ConflictsCharacter Conflicts

Wrote many short stories with a female Wrote many short stories with a female main charactermain character

Many of the characters were faced with Many of the characters were faced with overcoming ill fated loveovercoming ill fated love

Characters also must overcome family Characters also must overcome family and personal constraintsand personal constraints