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Eng102 Summer 2014 Nella Larsen
- 1. Nella Larsen Author of “Passing”, “Quicksand”, and “Sanctuary”
- 2. Family Information Born April 13, 1891 in Chicago, IL Birth name: Nellie Walker Father: Peter Walker, Mother: Mary Hanson, Stepfather: Peter Larsen Younger sister years later Only “black” member of the family
- 3. Education/Careers At age 16, enrolled at Fisk University’s Normal School, Nashville, TN After one year, moved to Denmark for four years (attend University of Copenhagen) Returned to US (NY) and became a nurse in 1915 1918-1919 Spanish flu pandemic, became a librarian Same time married well-known physicist, Elmer Imes
- 5. Literary Career Wrote short stories and poems, published her work (Du Bois, White) 1926 published several articles in The Brownies’ Book (African American magazine for children) Went under the name of Allen Semi (Nella Imes reversed) Captivated by Mixed Race dynamics, which became central themes in her novels
- 6. Novels and Awards First novel “Quicksand” 1928 (autobiographical) Received Harmon Foundation Bronze Medal for literature Celebrated as one of the bright stars of Harlem Renaissance Second novel “Passing” 1929 First black woman to receive Guggenheim Fellowship for literature
- 7. Plagiarism in “Sanctuary” Published in 1930 Accused of plagiarism off a story published 8 years earlier, “Mrs. Adis” by Sheila Kaye-Smith. Exonerated of accusations Affected Larsen profoundly, fell off the literature scope Same time, went through a divorce 1941 resumed her nursing career. Died March 30, 1964 (Easter Sunday) in NY White relatives denied knowing of her existence
- 8. “Mrs. Adis” VS. “Sanctuary” "I'm in trouble." His hands were shaking a little. "What you done?" "I shot a man, Mrs. Adis." (Kaye-Smith) "Ah's in trubble, Mis' Poole," the man explained, his voice shaking, his fingers twitching "W'at you done now?" "Shot a man, Mis' Poole." (Larsen, "Sanctuary")
- 9. Quote “Authors do not supply imaginations, they expect their readers to have their own, and to use it” ― Nella Larsen
- 10. Critics thoughts Many critics failed to recognized her story, “Sanctuary” saying it was a “failed experiment” (Wall 133-34) This is because of the negative impact it received due to the plagiarism accusation
- 11. Themes and Irony Writes about the struggles and strife of being mixed race Gender and Sexuality Themes Uses ironic and sophisticated approach that is both fresh and unique.
- 12. Message and Plot a strong female protagonist who protects the murderer of her own son out of loyalty to her own peer group Nella Larsen amused by “if the Negro race would only stick together, we might get somewhere some day, and that what the white folks didn't know about us wouldn't hurt us.” This is a strong, but rather melodramatic, plot
- 14. Analysis Tools Plot Man comes to Mis Poole seeking refuge after he shot an unknown man. Mis Poole makes a moral decision whether to protect him or turn him in after finding out the unknown man he killed was her own son. Theme The Sacrifice- Mis Poole sacrifices herself(emotionally) to protect her own (racially) Motif “White man o’ niggah?”(111) “how white folks is white folks,” (111) “ef dey werent white folks an’ you a po’ niggah” (111) “Ef Lawd had gib you a whit e face ‘stead o’ dat dere black one” (112) “Bill Lowndes was a hard one too. And white.” (113)
- 15. Analysis Tools Cont’d Message Stick together through thick and thin (racially) Point of View 3rd person omniscient- “and why, the woman inquired caustically, should she run the dangerous risk of hiding him?” (111) “and into his frenzied brain came the thought that it would be better for him to get up and go out to them…” (113) Setting “On the Southern coast, between Merton and Shawboro” (110) in Mis Poole’s house, evening time (“Ebenin’, Mistah Lowndes.”(113))
- 16. Literary Elements Foreshadowing “Daid?” Dunno, Mis’ Poole. Dunno.” White man o’ niggah?” Caint say, Mis’Poole.”(111) “Ef de Lawd had gib you a white face ‘stead o’ dat dere black one, Ah shuah would turn you out.” (112) Irony “You aint in no hurry, is you, Jim Hammer?” (110) “With all his greatest strength he tried to get himself out of the bed. But he couldn’t.” (113)
- 17. Figurative Language Simile: “his yellow eyes glowing like pale flames” (112); his tongue like a weighted dying thing.”(113) Metaphor: “She was an old demon,” (112) “his eyes, blue and cold” (113) Alliteration: “laid his soiled body and grimy garment between her snowy sheets,” (112); “his feet felt frozen, his hands clammy,” (113); “his hunters, however, didn’t hear him.”(114) Personification: “a lonely cottage that shrank timidly back” (110); “fear clutched so tightly at him” (112) Onomatopoeia: “But there was a light knock” (112); “Shucks! You done missed.” (113) Hyperbole: “youall done traipsed ‘way out hyah jes’ foh yo’ healf,” (113)
- 18. References Black History Now. BHS, 26 Sept. 2011. Web. 12 July 2014. <http://blackhistorynow.com/nella-larsen/>. "Nella Larsen Biography." Nella Larsen Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 July 2014. <http://www.biographybase.com/biography/Larsen_Nella.html>. "Nella Larsen Biography." Nella Larsen Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 July 2014. <http://www.biographybase.com/biography/Larsen_Nella.html>. "Nella Larsen." - New World Encyclopedia. N.p., 03 Apr. 2008. Web. 12 July 2014. <http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Nella_Larsen>. "Race, modernism, and plagiarism: the case of Nella Larsen's 'Sanctuary'.." The Free Library. 2006 African American Review 11 Jul. 2014 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Race%2c+modernism%2c+and+plagiarism%3 a+the+case+of+Nella+Larsen's...-a0159696863 Sørensen, Bent. "“Small, but Exalted” –." N.p., n.d. Web. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hum.aau.dk%2F~i12bent%2FNellaLarsen>.
Editor's Notes
- Father was a black cook from the West Indies, Mother a Danish seamstress. Larsen’s father disappeared soon after she was born and mother remarried a white man named Peter Larsen. Thought that these two men were actually the same man, he just wanted to reinvent himself as white (no records of name change though). Younger sister comes along, Larsen sticks out of the dynamically white family, she claims Peter was ashamed of her (for being african american).
- Her enrollment in a prestigious African American school served to provided distance between her and her family (she was made to feel shame in regards to being out in public with them) She said her racially ethnicity “might make it awkward for them, particularly my half-sister”. She wanted to learn about her Danish Ancestory, refused to acknowledge her, also said she went to attend college but no documentary evidence support her claim. Elmer Imes was the second african american to earn a PH.D in Physics. This marriage opened doors for Larsen – became acquianted with intellectuals of Harlem Renaissance (Du Bois, Langston Hughes, and Walter White)
- Her husband and she, were socialist in Harlem and in white intellectual circles but on her free time devoted herself to literature and reading. She had devoted herself full time to her literary career after publishing “Correspondence”.
- Quicksand-struggles about being mixed races in America. Include themes of gender and sexuality. Believed to be aoutobiography, main character born to a danish mother and black father. Travels (chicago family shunned her, tuskagee, copenhagan, harlem)“Passing” solidified her status as a literary voice. Worked on third novel and traveled to spain and paris for the next six months.
- Publishers of Kaye-Smith story disagreed stating Larsen’s work as being wholly original. Critics say “Sanctuary” was longer, better written, and more explicitly political. Defended her story/Folklore/previous rough drafts. Imes had an affair with a white woman. She lived off Imes alimony payments till his death in 1941. Died alone in apartment. Body was discovered some time after that, at which point most of her belongings were missing. Considered by most critics to be the greatest novelist of the Harlem Rennaissance.