Flannery O Connor's Influences

1507 Words4 Pages

What is more intriguing than human thought? Flannery O’Connor wrote about characters whose corrupt thoughts were put in the spotlight for all to see. She often used these faults to twist the plot in a direction unthought of. One of the other noticeable elements in her works is the inclusion of tremendous detail that allows the one reading to envision a scene. She wove descriptions into characters and actions that enticed the reader for more. O’Connor has used these elements of writing to create situations that show the reader the nature of humans. Flannery O’Connor has significantly influenced America and the world by reflecting her Catholic beliefs in her works without excluding a portion of her possible audience.
Flannery O’Connor was born …show more content…

The theme of her stories is often difficult to pinpoint because she utilizes inconspicuous methods of communicating them. For example, the trees are depicted as a heavenly scene with the light from the sun shining through them. On the other hand, the winding dirt roads were most likely used to reference Hell because they are contrasted with hills that overlook a magnificent forest (Ulicne). Initially, minor details in her stories can be overlooked, but the meaning of the work can be interpreted drastically different if the reader is aware of these …show more content…

She received the Rhinehart-Iowa Fiction Award for submitting an incomplete version of Wise Blood, one of her later published novels. She was given grants from not only the National Institute of Arts and Letters, but also the Ford Foundation. Most notably, the National Book Award was given to a collection of her works ,called The Complete Stories, eight years after her death. The award is usually reserved for living authors, however, the judges thought O’Connor to be deserving. Also, in 1979, fifteen years after her death, The Habit of Being, a collection of letters that revealed certain areas of her life, was edited by Sally Fitzgerald and published to tremendous reviews. (Gordon). O’Connor undeniably touched people’s lives over a decade after her death. That effect is the sign of a successful writer and what all aspire to

Open Document