Between the frame story, the name changes, and other structural choices
Twain makes (see Larry's fantastic recent essay), I think "A True Story"
can be taught within the conventions of the short story. Even if we accept
(as I do) that it is "based on a true story," I don't think it is "repeated
word for word as [Sam] heard it." His manuscript betrays a fair amount of
artistic liberty.
But, you're right, a lot of genre-bending. Do some of the burlesque
sketches belong in a separate category? What are Adam and Eve's diaries?
I teach a semester-long intro to the American Short Story. I always do five
authors. Every time I have taught it, I have done Poe and Baldwin. I have
also rotated in Hawthorne, O'Connor, James, and Joy Williams on multiple
occasions. I only taught Twain once. It was not a great experience. Not
saying the problem was necessarily him. I could've done better. But my
students hated the burlesques so much I've never attempted it again.
I should be working on syllabi.
- MS
On Thu, Aug 13, 2020 at 12:15 PM Mac Donnell Rare Books <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Agreed, according to the criteria set forth by that list-maker. But no
> sooner did she define what iconic meant, did she break her own rules. If
> you took that list and asked people on the street at random if they had
> ever heard of them, about a third would get blank stares. Heck, if you
> restricted your polling to English majors and just named some of the
> authors without mentioning any stories you'd still get a lot of blank
> stares. Please don't conduct this poll until after the pandemic.
>
> But most people will have heard of The Frog.
>
> Kevin
> @
> Mac Donnell Rare Books
> 9307 Glenlake Drive
> Austin TX 78730
> 512-345-4139
> Member: ABAA, ILAB, BSA
>
> You can browse our books at:
> www.macdonnellrarebooks.com
>
>
> ------ Original Message ------
> From: "Matthew Seybold" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: 8/13/2020 10:28:11 AM
> Subject: Re: Most "Iconic" MT short story??
>
> >"Iconic" has to be "Jim Smiley & His Jumping Frog," right?
> >
> >Don't get me wrong, I'd rather teach "Hadleyburg" or "Cannibalism in the
> >Cars" or the "Boy" stories or "A True Story" or "Eve's Diary," or any
> >number of other things, but I feel like the resilient popularity of
> >"Jumping Frog" is the reason Twain has to be on such a list.
> >
> >- MS
> >
> >On Thu, Aug 13, 2020 at 10:49 AM Hal Bush <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> >> Sadly this author overlooked our beloved hero, but she also forgot
> about
> >> Hawthorne ("Young Goodman Brown"); Kurt Vonnegut ("Harrison
> Bergeron"); and
> >> others I'm sure/ But my question" which MT short story should be on
> this
> >> list? My answer is revealed in the comments at the bottom...
> >>
> >>
> >>
> https://lithub.com/43-of-the-most-iconic-short-stories-in-the-english-language/
> >> [https://lithub.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/the-lottery.jpg]<
> >>
> https://lithub.com/43-of-the-most-iconic-short-stories-in-the-english-language/
> >> >
> >> 43 of the Most Iconic Short Stories in the English Language | Literary
> Hub<
> >>
> https://lithub.com/43-of-the-most-iconic-short-stories-in-the-english-language/
> >> >
> >> Ambrose Bierce, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” (1890) I will
> leave it
> >> to Kurt Vonnegut, who famously wrote, “I consider anybody a twerp who
> >> hasn’t read the greatest American short story, which is “Occurrence at
> Owl
> >> Creek Bridge,” by Ambrose Bierce.It isn’t remotely political. It is a
> >> flawless example of American genius, like “Sophisticated Lady” by Duke
> >> Ellington or the ...
> >> lithub.com
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Dr. Hal Bush
> >>
> >> Professor of English &
> >>
> >> Director of the Undergraduate Program
> >>
> >> Saint Louis University
> >>
> >>[log in to unmask]
> >>
> >> 314-977-3616
> >>
> >>http://halbush.com
> >>
> >> author website: halbush.com
> >>
> >
> >
> >--
> >Matt Seybold
> >Assistant Professor of American Literature & Mark Twain Studies
> >Elmira College
> >Editor, MarkTwainStudies.org
> >MattSeybold.com
> >
>
--
Matt Seybold
Assistant Professor of American Literature & Mark Twain Studies
Elmira College
Editor, MarkTwainStudies.org
MattSeybold.com
|
