This final paper deals with the Old South, meaning the Southern States of the USA. It is concerned with the myth that has established around the old days and deals with literature in which myth-making becomes apparent. Apart from the Northern States, the Old South has acquired a different society due to the Civil War. The consequences are discussed within this paper.
Within this paper, the depiction of the Southern Myth in literature shall be aimed at. In this regard, it needs to be debated, whether or not the Myth of the Old South does qualify as such, while further exploring the circumstances, in which such a myth can flourish. It shall be shown, how nostalgia, resulting from the Lost Cause, fueled the makings of the Myth. In order to keep the topic focused on just the myth, it will be exemplified my thesis with chosen material instead of giving an overview of literature which would barely scratch the surface. The main focus is to be put on Margaret Mitchell's novel Gone with the Wind, since it combines every last element which triggers nostalgia for the Old South and can therefore be seen as the main ingredient in preserving the Southern Myth as well as adding new components to it." Gone with the Wind" is a major piece of American literature, still sold by the thousands every year. It employs the status of plantation fiction, while simultaneously critically reviewing the planter aristocracy. Throughout my research, passages of Gone with the Wind shall be embedded into almost every chapter to support my thesis with this prime example of Southern plantation writing.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- I. Nostalgia for the Old South
- II. The Old Southern Myth
- III. The Search for Identity
- III.1 Southern Literary Identity
- III.1.1 Plantation Fiction
- III. 1.2 Apologists' notions
- III.1 Southern Literary Identity
- IV. The Interplay of Fiction and History
- IV. 1 Myth-making in Gone with the Wind & Uncle Tom's Cabin
- IV. 2 Gender in Gone with the Wind
- IV. 3 Race in Uncle Tom's Cabin & Gone with the Wind
- V. The New South
- V. 1 William Faulkner
- VI. The Myth prevails
- VI.1 The Old South in Pop-culture: Hart of Dixie
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to explore the construction of the Old South myth in American literature, particularly focusing on the nostalgic portrayal of antebellum plantation life and its impact on Southern identity. The paper examines how Southern writers used fiction to romanticize the past and cope with the loss of the Confederacy, analyzing the interplay of fiction and history in works such as Gone with the Wind and Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- Nostalgia and the glorification of the past
- The role of literature in shaping Southern identity
- The interplay of fiction and history in constructing the Old South myth
- The influence of the Civil War on Southern literature and culture
- The portrayal of race, gender, and class in Southern literature
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction explores the enduring image of the Old South in American culture, highlighting the romanticized portrayal of plantation life in literature, film, and television. It emphasizes the significance of the Civil War in shaping Southern identity and the search for a stable and distinct Southern identity.
Chapter I examines the theme of nostalgia in Southern literature, emphasizing its connection to the Civil War and the desire to romanticize the past. The chapter discusses the role of denial in perpetuating nostalgic narratives and the significance of the glorification of the past as a coping mechanism for the loss of the Confederacy.
Chapter II delves into the construction of the Old Southern myth, highlighting the portrayal of a romanticized and idealized past. The chapter discusses the elements of this myth, such as the emphasis on chivalry, honor, and the romanticized image of the antebellum plantation.
Chapter III explores the search for Southern literary identity, analyzing the role of plantation fiction in perpetuating the Old South myth. The chapter also discusses the notions of Southern apologists who sought to justify the South's past and its institutions.
Chapter IV examines the interplay of fiction and history in works such as Gone with the Wind and Uncle Tom's Cabin. The chapter analyzes how these novels contribute to the construction of the Old South myth, focusing on themes of gender and race.
Chapter V discusses the emergence of a "New South" in literature, specifically highlighting the work of William Faulkner. The chapter explores how Faulkner challenged traditional notions of Southern identity and contributed to a more complex and nuanced portrayal of the South.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper focuses on themes of nostalgia, identity, myth-making, and the impact of the Civil War on American literature and culture. Key terms include the Old South, plantation fiction, Gone with the Wind, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Southern identity, Southern apologia, and the New South.
- Quote paper
- Sarah Steppke (Author), 2015, The Old South in American Literature, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/340218
