Elizabeth Spencer's lifelong love for the south almost drips from the pages of her novels and short stories. Even though she spent most of her life away from her native grounds, Spencer continued to write about the places that marked her youth in Novels such as “The Salt Line” and short stories as “The Gulf Coast.” In the latter of the two, she describes the world of South Mississippi with its tranquil way of life that was disrupted by the violent Hurricane Camille in 1969. Spencer uses vivid imagery to place the reader into her shoes, experiencing the drama of seeing the drastic and swift change the hurricane made to the place she loved so much, which seemed timeless and unchangeable before.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Biography
- Family and Background
- Education
- Work
- Awards
- Professional Life
- Personal Life
- Sociocultural Background
- Conservative South
- Religion
- Personal Honor
- Gender Roles
- Family
- Race
- Community and Philosophy
- The Gulf Coast - Analysis
- Plot
- Major Themes
- Presentation of Characters
- Presentation of Setting
- Narrative Technique
- Cultural Signifiers
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This text analyzes the short story "The Gulf Coast" by Elizabeth Spencer, focusing on her portrayal of the South Mississippi setting and the impact of Hurricane Camille on the region. The analysis delves into the sociocultural background of the South in the 1930s-1940s, exploring themes of conservatism, religion, and social dynamics. The text also examines Spencer's narrative techniques and the cultural significance of the story.
- The impact of Hurricane Camille on the South Mississippi setting
- The sociocultural context of the South in the 1930s-1940s
- Themes of conservatism, religion, and social values in the South
- Elizabeth Spencer's narrative techniques and literary style
- The cultural significance of "The Gulf Coast" as a portrayal of the South.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction explores Elizabeth Spencer's love for the South and her use of vivid imagery to transport the reader into the world of South Mississippi before and after Hurricane Camille. Chapter 2 delves into the biography of Elizabeth Spencer, covering her family background, education, career, and personal life. Chapter 3 focuses on the sociocultural background of the South in the 1930s-1940s, exploring the conservatism, religious beliefs, and social norms that shaped the region. Chapter 4 analyzes the short story "The Gulf Coast" itself, examining the plot, major themes, character portrayals, setting, narrative techniques, and cultural signifiers within the story.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of the text include: Elizabeth Spencer, "The Gulf Coast," Southern Literature, South Mississippi, Hurricane Camille, sociocultural background, conservatism, religion, social norms, narrative techniques, cultural signifiers.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Bachelor Katharina Eder (Autor:in), 2009, "The Gulf Coast" by Elizabeth Spencer - an analysis, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/171966
