Flannery at 100: The Short Stories of Flannery O’Connor

Marking what would have been her 100th year in 2025, this course offers an in-depth exploration of the short fiction of Flannery O’Connor, one of the most distinctive voices in American literature. Known for her piercing wit, Southern Gothic style, and theological vision, O’Connor’s stories confront readers with characters caught in moments of violence, revelation, and unexpected grace. Through close readings of key works, the class will examine O’Connor’s use of irony, symbolism, and grotesque imagery to illuminate complex themes of morality, redemption, race, and the limits of human understanding. It should be noted that many of her characters would be unbearable if they were not so funny! Her fans today are varied and diverse. Alice Walker and Bruce Springsteen have repeatedly said she was a major literary influence, while Quentin Tarantino, Conan O’Brien and Tommy Lee Jones have all cited her impact on their work. Come see what all the fuss is about.

Note: No class will be held on April 30. The seminar will resume on May 7 and continue through May 14.

Group Leader: Laura Dunn
Venue: Chilton Club
Meets on: Thursday 1 PM to 3 PM
Starting: April 9
Sessions: 5
Class Size: 20
Teaching Style: Seminar
Weekly Preparation: None

With deep roots in the South, Laura Dunn is a native of Atlanta, Georgia with a BA in English from Hollins University and an MA in English from Northeastern University. For 20 years she taught literature in Northeastern University’s evening part-time degree program and finished her career teaching freshman and advanced writing courses in Northeastern’s English Department. She serves on the Board of BHS as well as the Curriculum Committee. She has been a passionate reader of Flannery O’Connor’s work since her high school years and has made a personal pilgrimage to her birthplace in Savannah, GA and to Andalusia farm, her home in Milledgeville, GA., both historic sites.