in Spanish Honduras
(cf. _Gold_). Lived in the Argentine. Threatened tuberculosis gave him
his first leisure (cf. _The Straw_). In 1914-5, he studied dramatization
at Harvard. In 1918, when he married, he went to live in a deserted
life-saving station near Provincetown. Associated with the Provincetown
Players. In 1920, his _Beyond the Horizon_ was given the Pulitzer Prize.
SUGGESTIONS FOR READING
1. What effect has Mr. O'Neill's life experience had upon the quality of
his plays?
2. What evidence of originality do you find in his (1) themes, (2)
background, and (3) technique?
3. Consider the influence of Joseph Conrad (cf. Manly and Rickert,
_Contemporary British Literature_) upon O'Neill. Read especially _The
Nigger of the "Narcissus."_
4. How has Mr. O'Neill been influenced by the plays of John Millington
Synge?
5. What do you make of the fact that Mr. O'Neill has struck out in
various directions instead of working a particular vein?
6. What reasons do you find for the common opinion that he is our most
promising dramatist? What limitations or weaknesses do you think may
interfere with his development? Do you think he will become a great
dramatist?
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Thirst, and Other One-Act Plays. 1914. (The Web, Warnings, Fog,
Recklessness.)
Before Breakfast. 1916.
The Moon of the Caribbees, and Other Plays of the Sea. 1919. (Bound
East for Cardiff; The Long Voyage Home; In the Zone; Ile; Where the
Cross is Made; The Rope.)
*Chris Christopherson. 1919. (Produced as Anna Christie, quoted with
illustrations, Cur. Op. 72 ['22]: 57.)
*Beyond the Horizon. 1920.
Gold. 1920.
The Emperor Jones; Diff'rent; The Straw. 1921.
The Hairy Ape; Anna Christie; The First Man. 1922.
STUDIES AND REVIEWS
Bookm. 53 ('21): 511; 54 ('22): 463.
Century, 103 ('22): 351 (portrait).
Cur. Op. 65 ('18): 159 (portrait); 68 ('20): 339.
Everybody's, 43 ('20): July, p. 49 (portrait).
Freeman, 1 ('20): 44.
Ind. 105 ('21): 158 (portrait).
Nation, 113 ('21): 626.
New Repub. 25 ('21): 173.
Theatre Arts M. 4 ('20): 286; 5 ('21): 174 (portrait only).
+James Oppenheim+--novelist, short-story writer, poet.
Born at St. Paul, Minnesota, 1882. Two years later his family moved to
New York, where he has lived ever since. Special student at Columbia,
1901-3. Has done settlement work, as assistant head worker of the Hudson
Guild Settlement. Superintende
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