Modernist Nonfiction
Vocabulary
You may have already seen these terms in the module overview, but you will see these again in the following Modernist nonfiction pieces. If you need to review the meanings of these terms, be sure to access the glossary.
- advent
- hullabaloo
- incomparable
- indignant
- ransack
Characteristics of Literary Nonfiction
Literary nonfiction is prose that uses the same techniques and devices typically found in fiction and poetry to report on true people, places, and events in the real world. In short, these are true stories, with emphasis on the word "story." Literary nonfiction is more than just providing information or analysis; it is a stylistic narrative complete with plot, setting, characters, tone, point of view, and theme. Just like fiction and poetry, literary nonfiction has several subtypes such as biographies, autobiographies, memoirs, travel writing, sports writing, interviews, and personal narratives to name a few.
There are four major characteristics of literary nonfiction. Roll your cursor over each of the panels below to view these characteristics.
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James Thurber
James Thurber with Peggy Cass and Joan Anderson
James Thurber (1894–1961) is most notable for his essays, plays, cartoons, short stories, and autobiographical accounts that evolved from his own experiences. His pieces were popular because he injected humor into his accounts by embellishing facts. Though most of what he wrote had a humorous tone, he typically depicted characters that struggled against the unpleasant realities of modern life. Upon graduating from Ohio State, Thurber moved to New York and wrote for The New Yorker. He continued to write pieces for The New Yorker throughout his career as well as create collections of his humorous cartoons and short stories.
Locate and read the essay "The Night the Ghost Got In" by James Thurber. As you read, note Thurber's use of exaggeration and humor. Also notice that this story relies heavily on the component of sound: footsteps, smashing of a window, the accents of police, etc. Pay close attention to how this contributes to the essay.
Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston (1891–1960) is recognized as a pioneering force in the documentation of African-American culture. She is considered a part of the Harlem Renaissance and was said to be an enigmatic figure who charmed everyone she met. Early in her career, Hurston and Langston Hughes collaborated on a play but argued over who had the rights to it. The play was not published in their lifetimes. While living in Harlem to begin a writing career during the 1920s, Hurston attended Barnard College where she worked on a degree in anthropology. By the 1930s, Hurston headed back south to document African-American folktales. Her anthropological work and her culturally based novels gained her critical acclaim in the 1930s and 1940s. Unfortunately, her publications and their popularity tapered off in the last decades of her life. At the time of her death, none of her works were in print, and she was buried in an unmarked grave. Today there has been a resurgence of interest in Hurston's work, and she has regained her prominence as one of the most important African-American writers of her time.
Read the excerpt from Dust Tracks on a Road. As you read, note the direct and indirect characterization techniques that Hurston uses to give us a detailed description of her as a child. In this excerpt, Hurston recalls how straightforward she was as a child. She retells how two white women came to her school to hear students read aloud and were impressed by Hurston's ability. She also discusses how folk tales and mythology always held a great fascination for her.
Literary Nonfiction Review
Now that you have explored characteristics of literary nonfiction, review your knowledge in this non-graded activity. Read the title of each book, then drag and drop the correct term that identifies the work as fiction or nonfiction to the blank. Click on the player button to get started.