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| Plot Summary of A Gathering of Old Men |
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"In the bayou country of deepest Louisiana, in the late 1970s, a Cajun farmer is found shot dead. At the scene are one young white woman and about 18 old black men, each holding a shotgun. The sheriff is pretty sure who killed the white guy -- hardly any of the old fellows standing around could hit the side of a barn -- but his interrogations, punctuated by slaps and threats, fail to crack or resolve their conflicting and confusing stories. Every single one claims guilt, though the dead man was killed with but one shot, and they promise a riot at the courthouse if the sheriff makes an arrest. Meanwhile, they wait for the inevitable lynch mob that is sure to be organized by the family and buddies of the deceased. By the climax of the story, everyone's learned a little something, especially the beaten old black men who get a taste of their own power and courage. This 1983 Gaines novel is as stirring as the rest of his writings; it's a wonder it hasn't been filmed."
David Loftus, Resident Scholar
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"In the deep part of Louisiana,in the '70s, a farmer was shot and killed.At the scene there was a white women and about 17 old black men. Each holding a shotgun. The sheriff suspects who killed the white man, but he's not sure which one killed him. "
deidra clarkIn Louisiana, Resident Scholar
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"A Gathering of Old Men (1983) by Ernest J. Gaines is a novel about race relations in the American South. The action takes place over the course of one day in rural Louisiana. A white man has been shot dead and lies in the yard of a black man's house. Eighteen old black men gather at the house and each claims that he is responsible for the killing. The brutal white sheriff conducts his investigation as the old men await the revenge of the dead man's relatives, who have a fearsome, longstanding reputation for exacting vigilante justice against black people. By the end of the day, there have been many surprises, and many of the characters have changed in ways that they could not have imagined. The conclusion of the novel hints that although the wounds of the past run deep and still influence the present, times are changing, and in the future, black people can hold out hope for a new era in which everyone is treated equally under the law.
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shawnta richardson, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of A Gathering of Old Men |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book?
- thoughtful
Time/era of story
- 1960's-1970's
Political/social activism
Yes
Plotlet:
- minorities fighting for rights
Inside culture (main char)
- Black
Other aspects:
- story of the poor
Crime & Police story
Yes
Story of
- catching a killer
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Outside culture (society)
- American South
Ethnic/regional/gender life
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- farmer
Age:
- 60's-90's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Eccentric/Smart/Dumb:
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings?
- 3 (some)
United States
Yes
The US:
- Deep South
Small town?
Yes
Small town people:
- nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee
- dumb Rednecks, like Gomer Pyle
Style
Person
- rotating 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Lot of foul language?
Yes
Unusual Style:
- a lot of flashback and forwards
- No single main character?
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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