Good Country Good Country PeoplePeople

Flannery O’ConnorFlannery O’Connor

Page 364Page 364

Group Members:

Emily Nordman

Whitney Rice

Adam Zuwala

Marcie Ashley

About the AuthorAbout the Author

Flannery O'Connor Flannery O'Connor Lived in GeorgiaLived in Georgia March 25, 1925 - August 1964March 25, 1925 - August 1964 Southern Writer - Gothic styleSouthern Writer - Gothic style Liked to use regional settings and Liked to use regional settings and

grotesque charactersgrotesque characters Religion - Roman CatholicReligion - Roman Catholic Degree in Social SciencesDegree in Social Sciences

Emily

Plot SummaryPlot Summary Joy constantly tries to rebel against her motherJoy constantly tries to rebel against her mother PhD in Philosophy PhD in Philosophy Changes name to HulgaChanges name to Hulga Hulga tries to seduce Bible salesmanHulga tries to seduce Bible salesman He persuades her to take off her glasses and He persuades her to take off her glasses and

wooden legwooden leg Packs them into a suitcase between a bible, a Packs them into a suitcase between a bible, a

flask and pornographic cards. flask and pornographic cards. He leaves her in barn loft, telling her he He leaves her in barn loft, telling her he

collects prosthetics from the disabled.collects prosthetics from the disabled. Hulga is shocked he isn’t good country people.Hulga is shocked he isn’t good country people.

Emily

SettingSetting

Mrs. Hopewell’s family farm in rural Mrs. Hopewell’s family farm in rural GeorgiaGeorgia

Emily

CharactersCharacters Mrs. HopewellMrs. Hopewell Tennant family, The Freeman’s. Tennant family, The Freeman’s. Mrs. Hopewell's daughter, Joy who got Mrs. Hopewell's daughter, Joy who got

her leg shot off in an accident as a child.her leg shot off in an accident as a child. Bible salesman, Manly Pointer.Bible salesman, Manly Pointer.

DISCUSS:DISCUSS: Are there any hero’s in the story?Are there any hero’s in the story?

Emily

DialogueDialogue

DISCUSS:DISCUSS: What kind of language does What kind of language does

O’Connor use to describe the O’Connor use to describe the characters?characters?

Marcie

Literary Terms - Literary Terms - HubrisHubris

Greek for “insolence”Greek for “insolence” Protagonist’s Protagonist’s tragic flawtragic flaw of overbearing of overbearing

pride, leads to reversal of fortunepride, leads to reversal of fortune Hulga’s leg = prideHulga’s leg = pride She believes she is superior to others, and She believes she is superior to others, and

is sure she can outsmart Manly Pointer - is sure she can outsmart Manly Pointer - yet it happens to be the other way around.yet it happens to be the other way around.

Whitney

IronyIrony

DISCUSS:DISCUSS: What is ironic about the scene where What is ironic about the scene where

Manly takes the items from Hulga?Manly takes the items from Hulga? (Physically and metaphorically (Physically and metaphorically

blinded)blinded)

Emily

PhilosophyPhilosophy ExistentialismExistentialism::

Individual is responsible for giving own life meaningIndividual is responsible for giving own life meaning Nietzsche - page 368Nietzsche - page 368

Nicolas MalebrancheNicolas Malebranche - page 368 - page 368

DISCUSS:DISCUSS: What do you think the author means by the What do you think the author means by the

quote, “quote, “We are not our own light?”We are not our own light?”

Whitney

Literary ToolsLiterary Tools

ColorColor NamesNames Hulga/Joy vrs. O’Connor?Hulga/Joy vrs. O’Connor?

LupusLupus AgeAge

O’Connor died at age 39O’Connor died at age 39

Whitney

Connections - IdentityConnections - Identity Joy’s rebellion through atheismJoy’s rebellion through atheism Changing her name to HulgaChanging her name to Hulga Contrasts “Piano Lesson” Contrasts “Piano Lesson” Identity, conformity, cultureIdentity, conformity, culture

DISCUSS:DISCUSS: How does the author perceive atheists? How does the author perceive atheists? Is this point of view relevant to the group Is this point of view relevant to the group

of people?of people?

Adam

Connections - DeceptionConnections - Deception

Manly Pointer seems to be Manly Pointer seems to be something he is not.something he is not.

Compares to “Cask of Amontillado” Compares to “Cask of Amontillado” when Montresor lures Fortuna to kill when Montresor lures Fortuna to kill him.him.

Recognition of evilRecognition of evil Man’s inhumanity against manMan’s inhumanity against man

Adam

Discuss…Discuss…

What is being said about faith and What is being said about faith and religion in the text?religion in the text?

God turned to foolishness the God turned to foolishness the 'wisdom' of this world'wisdom' of this world I Corinthians 1:20I Corinthians 1:20

What does the author mean by What does the author mean by “Good Country People?”“Good Country People?”

Works CitedWorks CitedO'Connor, Flannery. "Good Country O'Connor, Flannery. "Good Country People." People." Introduction to LiteratureIntroduction to Literature. .

Comp. Dr. Christy Rishoi. Comp. Dr. Christy Rishoi. Boston: Boston: Pearson Learning Pearson Learning Solutions, 2010. Solutions, 2010. Print.Print.