The Ox-Bow Incident -- Short Paper 2 Due Oct. 10 2005.

Select 1 question and answer, using specific examples from the film and other sources if you need them, in a short essay of 2-3 pages.

1.          The author has said that he wrote the novel as a cautionary tale, a warning against foreign and native fascism.  (The novel was published on the eve of World War II, and Clark acknowledged that his "lynchers" were Nazis in spirit.)  How can The Ox-Bow Incident be viewed as a political text?

2.            Who is the hero of The Ox-Bow Incident?  State a case for each of the following "heroes."

Art Croft

Preacher Osgood

Judge Tyler

Gerald Tetley

Other Nominees

Who is the villain?  What type of evil does each of the following manifest?

Ma Greer

Juan  Martinez

Major Tetley

Other nominees

Some scholars argue that The Ox-Bow Incident is without a hero or a villain; indeed, it portrays very few "whole" characters.  How do you respond to this criticism?  Look carefully at the physical characteristics and behavior  of the characters  that may suggest the characters' spiritual state.

3.      Discuss symbols in the movie:

4.  Discuss how the film is an example of narrative unity.   Do this in terms of the film’s style, literary conventions, and structure.

Tone

Setting

Time

Plot

Contrasts

Examples of irony

Images

Movement

4.        The film seems to challenge certain aspects of gender construction .  While reaffirming certain aspects of "western" masculinity (for example, courage), it simultaneously undermines other aspects of masculinity.  The same charge can be made of the film's  characterization of women.  How are our notions of "femininity" undercut by the portrayals of Ma Greer and Rose Mapen?  Take special note of how  characters "emasculate" the men by describing them in effeminate terms.

5.            What statements does the film take on the American Dream, justice and law, ethics and morality, individualism and the community?

6.            List the "hysteria" conditions that existed that moved this tragedy to its horrible conclusion.  (You may want to do a bit of research of mob behaviors.)

7.           Choose any quote or scene from the film that especially impressed, provoked, puzzled, or surprised you and explain why.