User:Allyi2016/sandbox

Wiegenstein:

Background criteria-

• John William's death led to deeper interest in his work

Plot summary criteria-

• "College novels" "Academic novels" are an academic genre
• Teacher vs. student roles
• Military and WW2 influences

Character criteria-

• powerlessness of main character (p. 39)
• professional rank and actions
• sexual involvement
• explosion

Theme- Escape from routine

Style- intrinsic

Critical reception-

• "bleak and predictable"
• plays on stereotypes

Summary: A pattern emerges in academic themed novels.

A Dignified Reservation:

Background criteria-

• politically motivated

Plot summary criteria-

• entered the academic world despite his background
• Struggling relationships with family and wife
• Affair and conflicts at work

Character criteria-

• character of temptation: Edith Bostwick
• character of conflict Hollis Lomax

Theme-

• Mid-life crisis/ escape from present

Style-

• Conversational

Critical reception-

• focus on relationships
• "disorder of ordinary life" (p. 21)

Summary: Correlation between Augustus and Stoner

NYKer Review:

Background criteria-

• born in 1891 on a farm

Plot summary criteria-

• absence of love
• cheated by the world
• scandal

Character criteria-

• dejected man
• wife and child have journeys of struggle

Theme- martyrdom

Style- brevity

Critical reception-

Summary: An ordinary man lived with good intentions but was dealt a bad hand in life.

John Williams Deserved to be read today:

Background criteria-

• William's was professor at University of Denver
• won National Book Award
• short man and chain smoker with emphysema

Plot summary criteria-

• A common man
• high standards regarding fictional work
• a great mentor with good relationships with his students

Character criteria-

Theme-

Style- conversational

Critical reception-

Summary: Background into John Williams