ENG303 American Literature Unit 8: Modern Fiction and Nonfiction

A Wagner Matinee

  • Author: Willa Cather

  • Summary: The story revolves around a young man who visits his aunt in Boston. She is an isolated, hardworking woman from Nebraska who begins to experience the joys of music and culture when taken to a Wagner concert. The contrast between her rural life and the experiences of the city highlights themes of appreciation and loss.

In Another Country

  • Author: Ernest Hemingway

  • Summary: This short story focuses on an American soldier recovering from wounds in an Italian hospital during World War I. It deals with themes of alienation, the impacts of war, and the complex relationships between soldiers from different backgrounds as they engage in rehabilitation and the shared understanding of suffering.

A Worn Path

  • Author: Eudora Welty

  • Summary: The narrative follows an elderly African-American woman named Phoenix Jackson, who makes a long journey to obtain medicine for her sick grandson. The story emphasizes themes of perseverance, the struggle against systemic barriers, and the unconditional love that motivates her quest.

From Black Boy

  • Author: Richard Wright

  • Summary: This autobiographical work recounts Wright's experiences growing up in the racially segregated South. It explores themes of racism, identity, and the struggles of adolescence as Wright learns to navigate a world rife with prejudice while seeking his own voice and purpose.

The Inside Search

  • Author: Theodore Roethke

  • Summary: A collection of poems that delve into the inner self, exploring themes of nature, existence, and the human psyche. Roethke's work often reflects his personal experiences and the connection between the self and the external world.

Faulkner's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech

  • Author: William Faulkner

  • Summary: Faulkner's speech emphasizes the importance of human dignity, the power of love, and the responsibility of writers to address the human condition. He advocates for exploring the complexities of life, drawing from collective human experiences, and emphasizes the resilience and strength within humanity's narrative.