The Passing Figure: Racial Confusion in Modern American LiteraturePeter Lang, 1996 - 142 pages How and when does literature most effectively uncover race to be a mataphor? The passing figure, a light-skinned African-American capable and willing to pass for white, provides the thematic focus to this provocative study. In exploring the social and cultural history of this distinctly American phenomenon, Bennett moves freely between literature, film, and music, arguing that the passing figure is crucial to our understanding of past and present conceptions of race. |
From inside the book
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Page 53
... become a mask . Now she turned on him a totally uncomprehending look , a bit questioning . ( 227 ) From this point on , Irene acts with little racial loyalty , refraining from warning her friend that her husband may have seen through ...
... become a mask . Now she turned on him a totally uncomprehending look , a bit questioning . ( 227 ) From this point on , Irene acts with little racial loyalty , refraining from warning her friend that her husband may have seen through ...
Page 80
... become so theorized that the literary imagination could now construct its narratives from the largest of abstractions . Vachel Lyndsay , in " The Golden Faced People , " could create a fable where white people were treated like blacks ...
... become so theorized that the literary imagination could now construct its narratives from the largest of abstractions . Vachel Lyndsay , in " The Golden Faced People , " could create a fable where white people were treated like blacks ...
Page 84
... become part of the community . In many ways , Stephen's evolution from this initial “ panic ” to his eventual acclimation represents the only character development in a novel that tries to show the innerworkings of a community . This is ...
... become part of the community . In many ways , Stephen's evolution from this initial “ panic ” to his eventual acclimation represents the only character development in a novel that tries to show the innerworkings of a community . This is ...
Contents
An Introduction to Passing | 1 |
Theme to Genre | 35 |
How White People Pass | 61 |
Copyright | |
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Other editions - View all
The Passing Figure: Racial Confusion in Modern American Literature Juda Bennett No preview available - 1998 |
Common terms and phrases
African-American American argues associated attention authors become beginning black and white body Bois Brown Butterfly called century chapter characters color concerned construction continue Craft created critics culture dark defined definition despite earlier early escape event examine explore familiar Faulkner fiction gender genre Harlem idea identity importance interest introduced Irene jazz Joe Christmas Julie larger Larson's less Light in August literature live look meaning metaphor minstrelsy movie mulatto narrator Negro never nigger nomenclature novel offers passing figure passing narratives past performance perhaps person play plot present problem provides question race racial racist reader recent refer Renaissance replaces representations representative requires satire scene seems sexuality Show Boat significant simply singing slave songs specifically story struggle success suggest tell theme thought tradition University Press writing written York