The Old South in American Literature

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
• 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.