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Dr. Bordelon's American Lit II On Campus

"The Open Boat"
Stephen Crane
1897

Image credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Crane

Terms to Know
Naturalism: A literary movement prevalent in later nineteenth century America that, as Lars Ahnebrink writes, "a manner and method of composition by which the author portrays life as it is in accordance with the philosophic theory of determinism [. . . .] To a naturalist man can be explained in terms of the forces, usually heredity and environment, which operate upon him" (vi). Ahnebrink writes that naturalist writers exhibit a "post-Darwinian belief that man was fundamentally an animal; his actions therefore depended essentially upon physiological phenomena" (214).

For additional information, see the "Naturalism" paragraph entry in the Oxford Companion to American Literature. For a richer discussion, see the Naturalism and Realism essay from The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Literature.

The Life
Crane, like many writers of this time, lived a dual life as a writer: he was both a journalist and wrote fiction. In fact, this story is based on the sinking of the USS Commodore. Crane was a passenger and wrote an article describing the incident which is linked here.

As the textbook reveals, Crane also wrote poetry. And as you can see it's in a very epigrammatic style that presages the imagists and modern poets of the next century.

Two of my favorite Crane poems not included in the textbook are below.

III

In the desert
I saw a creature, naked, bestial,
Who, squatting upon the ground,
Held his heart in his hands,
And ate of it.
I said, "Is it good, friend?"
"It is bitter – bitter", he answered,
"But I like it
Because it is bitter,
And because it is my heart."

From The Black Riders (1895)

The last lines were used by the contemporary author Joyce Carol Oates as the title to a novel

The wayfarer,
Perceiving the pathway to truth,
Was struck with astonishment.
It was thickly grown with weeds.
"Ha," he said,
"I see that none has passed here
In a long time."
Later he saw that each weed
Was a singular knife.
"Well," he mumbled at last,
"Doubtless there are other roads."

From War is Kind (1899)

The Times

Class Discussion
1. What is the "brotherhood of man" that is so "difficult to describe" (1004)? Does Crane do it? When is this brotherhood physically broken? What does this suggest?
2. What is the ride in the boat constantly compared with (1005, etc.)? What does this comparison suggest about the narrator's view of nature?
3. How/why is the smoking of cigars (1005) a sign of hubris?
4. Why is the phrase "If I am going to be drowned . . . ." repeated (1006, 1009, 1011)? Why does it seem to fade away at each telling, and finally disappear altogether?
5. "When it occurs to man . . ." (1011) what does this quote say about man's view of nature and fate?
6. Is the matter of fact tone of this story related to the narrator's comments on art in paragraphs 1012?
7. What's the meaning of the last line? What's being "interpreted" and why does it need to be explained?
8. What is this story ultimately saying about the relationship b/t man and nature? What passages support your reading?
9. After reading the newspaper account of this same incident, consider both pieces of writing and argue how the difference between the article and the story illustrate the difference between mere prose and literature.

Group Questions

What is the "brotherhood of man" Crane talks about in the story? Is it exclusive masculine?
Given this definition of Naturalism

A literary movement prevalent in later nineteenth century America that, as Lars Ahnebrink writes, "a manner and method of composition by which the author portrays life as it is in accordance with the philosophic theory of determinism [. . . .] To a naturalist man can be explained in terms of the forces, usually heredity and environment, which operate upon him" (vi). Ahnebrink writes that naturalist writers exhibit a "post-Darwinian belief that man was fundamentally an animal; his actions therefore depended essentially upon physiological phenomena" (214).

argue that "The Open Boat" is or is not a naturalist work.

What's the meaning of the last line? What's being "interpreted" and why does it need to be explained?
What is this story ultimately saying about the relationship b/t man and nature? What passages support your reading?
After reading the newspaper account of this same incident, consider both pieces of writing and argue how the difference between the article and the story illustrate the difference between mere prose and literature.

Links
Link to newspaper article by Crane describing this incident. Print and read and have ready for class.

Slate in history
http://geology.com/rocks/slate.shtml

History http://www.iscga.org/history-of-gravestones.html

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures