Course

Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Faulkner

Yale University

This course examines major works by renowned American authors Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and William Faulkner. It focuses on their interconnectedness through:

Macro history of the United States
Formal and stylistic innovations of modernism
Details of sensory input and psychic life

Warning: Some lectures may contain graphic content and adult language that could be disturbing to some viewers.

Course Lectures

Introduction
Wai Chee Dimock

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In this introductory module, Professor Dimock introduces the major themes and works of Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Faulkner, the leading figures of American modernism. The lectures orient their novels through three analytical scales:

Global geopolitics

Experimental narration

Sensory details

Dimock argues that all three writers share a preoccupation with World War I, which significantly influences their narrative techniques and thematic representations.
Hemingway's In Our Time
Wai Chee Dimock

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In this module, Professor Dimock discusses Hemingway's first book, In Our Time, a collection of vignettes that marked his rise as a modernist writer. The discussion centers on:

The structure and publication history of In Our Time

A cluster of vignettes illustrating themes of pain and violence

Theoretical perspectives from critics like Elaine Scarry and Susan Sontag

Through a close reading of key vignettes, Dimock highlights how Hemingway's style addresses communal suffering and inter-ethnic conflict.
Hemingway's In Our Time, Part II
Wai Chee Dimock

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This continuation of Hemingway's In Our Time delves deeper into four additional clusters of chapters. Professor Dimock emphasizes:

Hemingway's expressivity and emotional resilience

The interplay of tragedy and comedy in the narrative

Close readings of selected chapters and their thematic implications

Dimock argues that Hemingway's blend of genres creates a distinctive humor that oscillates between irony and farce, reflecting the complexity of human emotion.
Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby
Wai Chee Dimock

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This module examines Fitzgerald's iconic novel, The Great Gatsby, through the lens of experimental counter-realism. Key discussions include:

Fitzgerald's unique narrative style termed "vagueness" by editor Maxwell Perkins

The animation of inanimate objects and their emotional resonance

Critical perspectives on race within the narrative

Dimock engages with how Fitzgerald's stylistic choices contribute to the novel's thematic depth and its portrayal of societal issues.
Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, Part II
Wai Chee Dimock

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Continuing the exploration of The Great Gatsby, this module focuses on the auditory-visual linkages among the novel's characters. Topics include:

Implications of auditory and visual fields in character relationships

Thematic concerns of accountability, illusion, and disillusion

Character studies of Daisy, Jordan Baker, Gatsby, and Nick Carraway

Professor Dimock illustrates how these connections inform the overarching narrative and character arcs within the context of the Jazz Age.
Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury
Wai Chee Dimock

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This module introduces Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury, focusing on its origins and narrative techniques. Professor Dimock discusses:

Influences from literature, including Shakespeareâs Macbeth

The unique perspective of Benjy, a mentally impaired character

Faulknerâs method of blending past and present through memory

A close reading reveals how Faulkner uses sensory details to explore themes of innocence and loss within the context of family decline.
Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury, Part II
Wai Chee Dimock

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Continuing the analysis of The Sound and the Fury, this module juxtaposes Quentin's narrative against Benjy's viewpoint. Key themes include:

Stylistic parallels between different narrative sections

The exploration of racial themes and interactions

Quentin's tragic response to Caddy's loss of innocence

Dimock's readings highlight the complexity of familial bonds and the burden of loss, culminating in Quentin's tragic fate.
Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury, Part III
Wai Chee Dimock

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This module focuses on Jason's section of The Sound and the Fury, emphasizing themes of rage and loss of community. Professor Dimock discusses:

Jasonâs anger towards family and broader society

The impact of modernity on personal relationships

Faulknerâs nuanced sympathy for Jason's plight

Dimock connects Jason's experiences to broader themes of alienation and the disintegration of social bonds, culminating in a poignant critique of modern existence.
Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury, Part IV
Wai Chee Dimock

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This module concludes the analysis of The Sound and the Fury by examining the omniscient narrator's perspective. Key focuses include:

The role of Luster and Dilsey in the narrative

Thematic threads of redemption and community

Connections between personal and collective histories

Dimock's readings illustrate how Faulkner weaves together themes of race, memory, and redemption through the final interactions of the characters.
Hemingway -- To Have and Have Not, Part I
Wai Chee Dimock

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In this module, Professor Dimock introduces Hemingway's novel To Have and Have Not, exploring its origins and thematic structure. Key discussions include:

The classification of characters by race, class, and sexuality

Thematic parallels among diverse character types

Hemingway's narrative shifts and their implications

This exploration illuminates how Hemingway navigates the complexities of identity and human experience through his characters' interactions.
Hemingway -- To Have and Have Not, Part II
Wai Chee Dimock

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This module continues the examination of To Have and Have Not, focusing on the socio-political context of Cuba during the Great Depression. Professor Dimock discusses:

The protagonist Harry Morgan's complex identity as a "Have Not"

Interactions between personal and political spheres

The ironic nature of Harry's character as a "mediated Have"

Dimock's analysis reveals the nuanced relationship between personal happiness and socio-political struggles within the narrative.
Fitzgerald -- "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz", etc.
Wai Chee Dimock

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This module examines four of Fitzgerald's notable short stories: The Rich Boy, Babylon Revisited, The Diamond as Big as the Ritz, and Bernice Bobs Her Hair. Professor Dimock analyzes:

Social types depicted in each story

The dramatic tensions between protagonists and their social ideals

How these narratives reflect social realities and identity

The analysis unveils Fitzgerald's exploration of social conformity and deviation as central themes across these works.
Faulkner -- As I Lay Dying
Wai Chee Dimock

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In this module, Professor Dimock delves into Faulkner's As I Lay Dying, situating it within the context of the Great Depression in the South. Key focuses include:

The narrative techniques employed in the novel

Bakhtin's theories on social dialects and their implications

Secrets revealed through multiple narrators

Dimock's analysis emphasizes the complexity of familial relationships and social commentary throughout Faulkner's work.
Faulkner -- As I Lay Dying, Part II
Wai Chee Dimock

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This module continues the exploration of As I Lay Dying, focusing on the interplay of epic conventions and character identities. Professor Dimock discusses:

The relationship between minor characters and animals

Jewel's connection to his heritage and family dynamics

The epic themes of resurrection and narrative secrecy

Dimock's analysis reveals how Faulkner's characters navigate complex identities while encapsulating broader themes of human experience.
Faulkner -- As I Lay Dying, Part III
Wai Chee Dimock

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This module concludes the discussion of As I Lay Dying, analyzing its generic form and themes of tragedy and comedy. Key elements include:

The relationships among family members and their evolving identities

Comparative tragedy and comedy within the narrative

Reconstitution of kinship and social dynamics

Dimock's analysis illustrates how Faulkner navigates the complexities of human relationships and the notion of belonging throughout the novel.
Hemingway -- For Whom the Bell Tolls
Wai Chee Dimock

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In this module, Professor Dimock introduces Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls, focusing on its historical context during the Spanish Civil War. Key themes include:

The concept of the "involuntary foreigner" embodied by protagonist Robert Jordan

The impact of technology on war and personal interactions

The struggle for belonging amidst political turmoil

Dimockâs analysis sets the stage for understanding the complex relationships formed during wartime.
Hemingway -- For Whom the Bell Tolls, Part II
Wai Chee Dimock

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This module continues the analysis of For Whom the Bell Tolls, focusing on Robert Jordan's reflections on distant homes versus the present realities of war. Key topics include:

Contrasts between Jordan's memories of America and his current experiences

Ethnic and racial tensions highlighted within the narrative

The irony of the American Civil War as a historical distant home

Dimock reveals how these contrasts inform Jordan's identity and understanding of self within the conflict.
Hemingway -- For Whom the Bell Tolls, Part III
Wai Chee Dimock

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This module focuses on the themes of dying and survival in Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls. Key discussions include:

Aesthetic and ethical implications of violence and death

Thematic dimensions of life and death represented through various characters

Jordan's reflections on cowardice and heroism

Dimock's analysis highlights the moral complexities within the narrative, providing a nuanced understanding of the characters' struggles.
Hemingway -- For Whom the Bell Tolls, Part IV
Wai Chee Dimock

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In this final module, Professor Dimock concludes the discussion of For Whom the Bell Tolls by examining the narrative of dispossession and potential redemption. Key focuses include:

The impact of trauma and betrayal within the narrative

Jordan's journey between loss and reclamation

Broader implications for understanding personal and collective struggles

Dimock emphasizes the significance of these themes in shaping Hemingway's narrative and its resonance in contemporary contexts.
Fitzgerald - Tender Is the Night
Wai Chee Dimock

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This module introduces Fitzgerald's Tender Is the Night, positioning it within his Hollywood career and narrative techniques. Key discussions include:

Influence of film techniques like flashback and montage

Superimposition of love and war within the narrative

Connections to broader themes of identity and disillusionment

Dimock's analysis reveals how Fitzgerald's cinematic style enhances the complexity of the novel's emotional landscape.
Fitzgerald, Tender is the Night, Part II
Wai Chee Dimock

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This module concludes the analysis of Tender Is the Night by examining Zelda Fitzgerald's influence on the character of Nicole Diver. Key themes include:

Biographical connections to Fitzgeraldâs own life and struggles

Narrative techniques that emphasize Dick Diver's dispossession

Race and class dynamics depicted in the novel

Dimock's insights illuminate how personal and societal issues intertwine in Fitzgeraldâs narrative, culminating in thematic resolutions.
Faulkner, Light in August
Wai Chee Dimock

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In this module, Professor Dimock introduces Faulkner's Light in August, emphasizing Lena's character and her journey. Key focuses include:

Updating the classic story of the unwed mother

Comedy infused within the epic road narrative

The kindness of strangers as a central theme

Dimock's analysis highlights Faulkner's stylistic choices and their deeper implications regarding community and human connection.
Faulkner, Light in August, Part II
Wai Chee Dimock

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This module continues the exploration of Light in August, focusing on the dual narratives of Lena and Joe Christmas. Key themes include:

The kindness of strangers turning to malice

Joanna Burden's complex character and moral challenges

Interconnectedness of Lena's and Joe's journeys

Dimock's insights reveal how Faulkner navigates the nuanced dynamics of community and individual agency throughout the narrative.
Faulkner, Light in August, Part III
Wai Chee Dimock

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This module centers on the unresolved racial issues in Faulkner's Light in August. Professor Dimock examines:

The varied implications of the term "nigger" throughout the narrative

Reflections on racial identities and societal perceptions

The interplay of language and social commentary within the text

Dimock's analysis provides a critical lens on race and its complexities in Faulkner's work.
Faulkner, Light in August, Part IV
Wai Chee Dimock

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This concluding module of Faulkner's Light in August focuses on predestination and agency. Key discussions include:

Joe Christmas's tragic self-identification and agency

The interplay between tragedy and comedy in the narrative

Hightower's redemptive role and Lena's hopeful courtship

Dimockâs insights reveal how Faulkner intertwines personal and collective struggles within the context of racial dynamics and social relationships.