Preview

Passing by Nella Larsen

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
912 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Passing by Nella Larsen
Passing By Nella Larsen

Nella Larsen 's novel, Passing, provides an example of some of the best writing the Harlem Renaissance has to offer. Nella Larsen was one of the most promising young writer 's of her time. Though she only published two novels it is clear that she was one of the most important writers of the Harlem Renaissance movement. Her career as writer probably would have lasted longer, but she was accused of plagiarizing her short story, Sanctuary. She was eventually cleared of any wrong doing, but the accusation deeply tarnished her reputation as writer. It is truly a shame that the first African-American woman to win the Guggenheim Fellowship was forced out of writing by scandal. Before being haunted by scandal, Nella Larsen played an intricate role in the Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem Renaissance was a movement that started toward the end of World War I and lasted through the mid 1930 's. It was the first notable movement of African-American writers and artists in the United States. It was given the name Harlem Renaissance because the movement was centered in the Harlem district in New York City. More African-American writers and poets were published during this period in the United States than ever before. Not only were African-American writers being published more, but they were also getting a great deal of recognition for their work. The body of work characteristic of this time period showed a heightened sense of racial consciousness. African-American writers during this time were not only seeking to counteract racial prejudice, but were also perpetuating the cultural heritage of Africa. Some of the major writers born from this period include Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, Jean Toomer, Countee Cullen, Neale Hurston and of course, Nella Larsen. The writing of the Harlem Renaissance explored a variety of themes and genres. The writer 's experimented with a wide variety of styles as well. Langston Hughes for instance explored the lives of



Bibliography: Larsen, Nella. Quicksand and Passing. Rutgers State University, 1986

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Langston Hughes was an African-American writer in the 1920's. He was best known for his stories in the Harlem Renaissance about the Black Culture. Hughes emphasized the theme that “Black is Beautiful.” In Hughes' short story, “Why, You Reckon,” he writes through the main character, the narrator, a poor, 'hongry' Black. Hughes uses character and scene description, symbolism, themes, and dialogue to set his story up and make it more interesting and historical to the reader.…

    • 771 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Harlem Renaissance was a literary, artistic, and intellectual movement that kindled a new black cultural identity, spanning the 1920s and to the mid-1930s. While reading the article “Black Renaissance: A Brief History of the Concept” I learned that the Harlem Renaissance was once a debatable topic. Ernest J. Mitchell wrote the article, explaining how the term “Harlem Renaissance” did not originate in the era that it claims to describe. The movement “Harlem Renaissance” did not appear in print before 1940 and it only gained widespread appeal in the 1960s. During the four preceding decades, writers had mostly referred to it as “Negro Renaissance.”…

    • 105 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Nella Larsen’s passing, ignoring society’s oppressive constraints leads to the lucrative living habits of anyone apt to suppress racial communities.…

    • 247 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In Nella Larsen’s Passing, we get to see the dynamics of the friendship Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry share. Irene presents herself as a wealthy, well educated, sophisticated woman and a respected member of the Harlem community. She is married to a wealthy black doctor, has two children, and a perfect life. Nothing could mess that up. On the other hand, we learn about Clare Kendry through the eyes of Irene. Clare Kendry is the character who seems to stroll undisturbed back and forth across the color line. Irene describes Clare as traitor to her people (the Harlem society) and socially undesirable due to the fact that…

    • 1202 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the short novel "Passing," Nella Larsen depicts the struggles of African American women in the 1900s, highlighting the intersecting forces of race and gender in society. After Irene and Clare reunite at a restaurant while both are "passing" to get in, Clare reveals she's married to a wealthy white man from America. She must tread carefully, especially when it comes to revealing her identity as an African American. Months later, at Clare's house, her husband, John Bellow enters the room and greets his wife with the racist statement, "Hello Nig," which hints at knowledge of her heritage. However, it later revealed he was innocently commenting on her changing skin tone over time, oblivious to any racial implications.…

    • 315 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Harlem Renaissance is remembered for many reasons. Some people remember it as the beginning to African American singers, artists, poets, and much more. Many people became popular and began their careers in this era. African Americans began to establish their rights as Citizens of the United States during this time period as well as become famous. In this essay, I will discuss how the Renaissance began, the major events and people of the Renaissance, and how the Renaissance was intertwined with Marian Anderson’s life and her career.…

    • 1341 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Zora Neale Hurston was an African-American author who wrote during the Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural, social, and artistic movement that took place in Harlem between the 1920s and the 1930s. The Harlem Renaissance was a period where African-Americans started to overcome racism and assimilate into a Caucasian dominated society. Zora Neale Hurston's novel Their Eyes Were Watching God is one of the most famous novels of the Harlem Renaissance. The novel focuses on the plight of an African-American woman, Janie, achieving a joyous, respectable life from a humble background. Janie struggled through life due to her mostly unsuccessful search for love. After many years with an oppressive husband, Janie finally found her true love and started to live life the way she wanted. This theme can be seen in the way that Hurston wrote the novel.…

    • 2357 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Harlem Renaissance was from the 1920s and 30s that kindled black culture. This period was one of rejoicing in the new found culture that was long suppressed during slavery. Some works include Passing by Nella Larsen and Cane by Jean Toomer. Some Characteristics include joy and real party scenes with some scenes of struggle still present in the lives of the free.…

    • 1430 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Harlem Renaissance created a place for “streams of black writers, musicians, performers and film-makers, a refuge from the all racism of American society” (Stuart 40). Harlem became a place separate from society where people were free to do as they pleased which allowed for creative art in the forms of writing, poetry, paintings, and music to flourish; however it also gave life to drug use, sexual adventure, and…

    • 910 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    During a time in American History were African Americans did not have right of equality or freedom of speech. Langston Hughes during the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, influenced a lot of people with his poems, short stories, novels, essays and his bravery to promote equality among African Americans and that racism should be put to an end. Langston Hughes is an African American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. Born on February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri and died on May 22, 1967 in New York, NY. Hughes used three elements to write his literatures poverty, racism, and suffrage.…

    • 1448 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In 1975, Ms. Magazine published Alice Walker's essay, "In Search of Zora Neale Hurston" reviving interest in the author. Hurston's four novels and two books of folklore resulted from extensive anthropological research and have proven invaluable sources on the oral cultures of African America. Zora Neale Hurston is considered one of the pre-eminent writers of twentieth-century African-American literature. Hurston was closely associated with the Harlem Renaissance and has influenced such writers as Ralph Ellison, Toni Morrison, Gayle Jones, Alice Walker, and Toni Cade Bambara. Through her writings, Robert Hemenway wrote in The Harlem Renaissance Remembered, Hurston "helped to remind the Renaissance--especially its more bourgeois members--of the richness in the racial heritage." (http://zoranealehurston.com/)…

    • 1167 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Essay on Langston Hughes

    • 2258 Words
    • 10 Pages

    The leader we chose to do possess both transformational and motivational/influential characteristics of a leader. This leader motivated and transformed many lives, encouraging many African Americans to engage in more literature, writing, and reading. Langston Hughes, or by birth, James Mercer Langston Hughes impacted many live during the Harlem Renaissance Era. He was an African American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form jazz poetry who is best known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance. He famously wrote about the period that "the Negro was in vogue" which later change into “when Harlem was in vogue.”…

    • 2258 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Harlem Renaissance was African-American’s cultural movement that began in 1920, it was blossoming of African American culture in terms of literature and art starting in the 1920 to 1930 reflecting the growth of Black Nationalism and racial identity. Some universal themes symbolized throughout the Harlem Renaissance were the unique experience of thralldom slavery and egressing African-American folk customs on black individuality. African American population of United States highly contributed in this movement; they played a great role to support it. In fact, major contribution was made by black-owned businesses and publication of their literary works. Nevertheless, it relied on the patronization of whites.…

    • 630 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Harlem Renaissance was the revival of African American culture. Though the 1920 movement is over, the words and messages that were spread are still used today. The Harlem Renaissance ultimately led to new genres of literature and philosophical ideas concerning problems that African Americans went through during the early twentieth century in the United States. Most authors that originated from the harlem renaissance wrote about their own personal experiences, the alienation and marginalization in American society. From that stemmed new genres and historical literature that is still referenced today. Some examples can be Their Eyes Were Watching God by Janie Crawford, where she talks about her early life with her grandmother, and Cane by…

    • 127 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Harlem Renaissance was an iconic movement of the nineteenth century. It was a social and intellectual eruption that was located in Harlem, New York. Legends such as Duke Ellington, Zora Neale Hurston, Aaron Douglas, and many more, all originated from this extraordinary movement. Claude McKay is one of the most legendary authors that contributed the Harlem Renaissance. McKay wrote many iconic pieces. To name a few, he wrote poems titled, “If We Must Die”, “Harlem Shadows”, and “America”. By doing the impossible and being heard when he could not speak, Claude McKay has used his voice for social justice and has changed the world for the better.…

    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics