UNIVERSIDAD DE CUENCA AUTORAS: Verónica Andrea Loayza Mejía Jeaneth Catalina ...

148 Pages·2011·0.64 MB·English

UNIVERSIDAD DE CUENCA

ABSTRACT

James Grover Thurber was a great American author, cartoonist, and humorist.
However, he is best known for his contributions both as a cartoonist and as
short story writer for the New Yorker magazine. Throughout this investigation
we have tried to depict his life which was successful in some ways, but at the
same time, filled with hardships because of bad health. The first chapter deals
with James Thurber’s life. During his career, Thurber experimented with many
types of writing. The second chapter refers to the historical period in which
James Thurber lived. In the third chapter, we analyze his works. James
Thurber found a way to make serious statements about human nature and
society through his many short stories and books. Even though Thurber’s
experiences, influences, and feelings are not unique, his writings have found a
place in history. Finally, Chapter four analyzes James Thurber’s Fables for Our
Time, a collection of Thurber’s humor fables. This study focuses on moral
lessons.

Clue Words: James Thurber’s biography, humorist and cartoonist, American
author, James Thurber’s works.

AUTORAS:
Verónica Andrea Loayza Mejía
Jeaneth Catalina Solórzano Ramos 1
UNIVERSIDAD DE CUENCA

Contents
ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................... 1
ACKNOWLEDGMENT ......................................................................................... 8
DEDICATION ....................................................................................................... 9
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 11

CHAPTER 1 ....................................................................................................... 13
JAMES GROVER THURBER’S BIOGRAPHY .................................................. 13
1.1 EARLY YEARS AND EDUCATION ............................................................. 13
EARLY YEARS ............................................................................................... 13
EDUCATION ................................................................................................... 16
1.2 BEGINNING OF HIS CAREER .................................................................. 20
1. 3 MARRIAGE ............................................................................................... 22
First Marriage .................................................................................................. 22
Second Marriage ............................................................................................. 24
1. 4 PROFESSIONAL LIFE .............................................................................. 25
1.5 LAST DAYS ................................................................................................ 27

CHAPTER 2 ....................................................................................................... 30
THE HISTORICAL PERIOD IN WHICH JAMES THURBER LIVED ................. 30
2.1 1917 The United States entered World War I ............................................ 30
2.2 THE IMMIGRATION ACT OF 1924 ............................................................. 35
2.3 The Great Depression Begins in the 1920s ................................................. 38
2.4 World War II ................................................................................................. 41

AUTORAS:
Verónica Andrea Loayza Mejía
Jeaneth Catalina Solórzano Ramos 2
UNIVERSIDAD DE CUENCA

Events Leading to the War .............................................................................. 42
Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor ................................................................... 46
Organization, Preparation, and Strategy ........................................................ 47
Campaign in the Pacific .................................................................................. 49
Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; Japanese Surrender .......................... 52

CHAPTER 3 ....................................................................................................... 55
ANALYSIS OF SOME OF JAMES THURBER’S POETRY ............................... 55
3.1 CHILDREN’S STORIES .............................................................................. 55
MANY MOONS ............................................................................................... 55
THE 13 CLOCKS ............................................................................................ 61
3.2 CARTOONS ............................................................................................... 70
THE LAST FLOWER .......................................................................................... 73
3.3 SHORT STORIES .................................................................................... 103
The secret life of Walter Mitty ........................................................................... 105
THE CATBIRD SEAT ....................................................................................... 111

CHAPTER 4 ..................................................................................................... 118
BRIEF ANALYSIS OF THURBER’S WRITINGS ............................................. 118
4.1 THURBER LITERARY CAREER ............................................................. 118
4.2 THURBER WORKS ON FABLES ............................................................ 120
4.3 THURBER’S FABLES .............................................................................. 121
Fable ............................................................................................................. 121
Fables for Our Time and Famous Poems Illustrated .................................... 123
The Unicorn in the Garden ............................................................................ 126
THE LITTLE GIRL AND THE WOLF ............................................................ 130
THE RABBITS WHO CAUSED ALL THE TROUBLE ................................... 133

AUTORAS:
Verónica Andrea Loayza Mejía
Jeaneth Catalina Solórzano Ramos 3
UNIVERSIDAD DE CUENCA

4.4 CRITICISM OF THURBER FABLES ....................................................... 137
Critical Reception .......................................................................................... 137
Awards and Honours .................................................................................... 139
4.5 BRIEF LOCAL SURVEY ON JAMES GROVER THURBER ..................... 140
ANALYSIS OF THE TABULATION .............................................................. 142

CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................... 144
BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................... 147

GRAPHIC CONTENTS

Graphic 1 40% have heard about James Thurber and 60% have not ............ 142
Graphic 2 20% of Ecuadorians have heard about James Thurber and 80%
have not ............................................................................................................ 142

ILLUSTRATION CONTENTS

Illustration 1 Image of James ............................................................................. 13
Illustration 2 “Many Moons” by James Thurber; 1943 ....................................... 57
Illustration 3 “The 13 Clocks” by James Thurber; 1950 ..................................... 63
Illustration 4 “The Last Flower” by James Thurber; 1939 .................................. 73
Illustration 5 “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” by James Thurber; 1939 ......... 105

AUTORAS:
Verónica Andrea Loayza Mejía
Jeaneth Catalina Solórzano Ramos 4
UNIVERSIDAD DE CUENCA

Illustration 6 “Fables for Our Time and Famous Poems illustrated” by James
Thurber; 1940 ................................................................................................... 123
Illustration 7 “The Unicorn in the Garden” by James Thurber; 1939 ............... 126
Illustration 8 “The Little Girl and the Wolf” by James Thurber; 1939 ............... 130

AUTORAS:
Verónica Andrea Loayza Mejía
Jeaneth Catalina Solórzano Ramos 5
UNIVERSIDAD DE CUENCA

FACULTAD DE FILOSOFÍA, LETRAS Y CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIÓN

ESCUELA DE LENGUA INGLESA

“JAMES GROVER THURBER, A GREAT AMERICAN HUMORIST”

Tesis previa a la obtención del
.
Título de Licenciada en Ciencias

de la Educación en la

Especialización de Lengua y

Literatura Inglesa.

AUTORAS: Verónica Andrea Loayza Mejía
Jeaneth Catalina Solórzano Ramos

DIRECTOR: Ing. Genner Ochoa Maldonado

CUENCA - ECUADOR
2011

AUTORAS:
Verónica Andrea Loayza Mejía
Jeaneth Catalina Solórzano Ramos 6
UNIVERSIDAD DE CUENCA

The content of this work is the responsibility of the authors

AUTORAS:
Verónica Andrea Loayza Mejía
Jeaneth Catalina Solórzano Ramos 7
UNIVERSIDAD DE CUENCA

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We wish to express our sincere gratitude to Ing. Genner Ochoa for his
unconditional support, to all the authorities who guided us, to our friends and
partners for the time we spent together and to everyone who made this dream
come true.

AUTORAS:
Verónica Andrea Loayza Mejía
Jeaneth Catalina Solórzano Ramos 8
UNIVERSIDAD DE CUENCA

DEDICATION

To my parents who supported and encouraged me with their patience and love
with the progress of this thesis. I would especially like to dedicate this thesis to
my husband Juan Pablo and my children Nicole and Francisco, who always
gave me their unconditional support to finish my studies.
Thanks to you

Verónica Loayza

AUTORAS:
Verónica Andrea Loayza Mejía
Jeaneth Catalina Solórzano Ramos 9
UNIVERSIDAD DE CUENCA

DEDICATION

To my loving parents who have guided my days, and motivated me through
values helping me to become the person I am today. Thanks for being with me
every moment and guiding me with your wise advice and giving me the support
that I needed. Also, to my sisters who give me a lot of positive and
unconditional love. To you I dedicate this work. Thanks so much.

Jeaneth Solórzano

AUTORAS:
Verónica Andrea Loayza Mejía
Jeaneth Catalina Solórzano Ramos 10