37 Dorothy Parker
In This Chapter
Author Background
Dorothy Parker (1893-1967) was an American writer, poet, critic, and satirist known for her wit, sharp social commentary, and distinctive writing style. Dorothy Parker was born on August 22, 1893, in West End, New Jersey, United States. She grew up in a predominantly Jewish household and attended Catholic schools. Parker developed an early interest in literature and began writing poetry and short stories in her teenage years.
Writing Career
Parker started her writing career as a freelance writer, contributing to various magazines and publications. She became known for her acerbic wit, satirical writing, and clever wordplay. Parker wrote for publications such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and The Saturday Evening Post. Her works often explored themes of love, relationships, gender roles, and societal norms, reflecting the social and cultural climate of the early 20th century.
Parker’s poetry collections include Enough Rope (1926), Sunset Gun (1928), and Death and Taxes (1931). Her poetry is characterized by its concise and often biting language, dark humor, and exploration of love, loneliness, and the human condition. Parker also wrote short stories and essays, including the collection Laments for the Living (1930).
Work in Film
Parker was a founding member of the Algonquin Round Table, a group of writers, critics, and actors who met regularly at the Algonquin Hotel in New York City in the 1920s. The group, known for their sharp wit and intellectual discussions, included notable figures such as Robert Benchley, Alexander Woollcott, and Edna Ferber.
Parker’s writing career continued into the 1940s and 1950s, but she faced personal and professional struggles, including alcoholism and depression. She worked as a screenwriter in Hollywood, contributing to films such as A Star is Born (1937).
Legacy
Parker’s work has had a lasting impact on American literature and is celebrated for its wit, humor, and incisive social commentary. She is often recognized as one of the foremost literary voices of the Jazz Age and a prominent figure in the New York literary scene.
Follow the links below to read poetry selections from Dorothy Parker and then use the discussion questions provided to dig deeper into each poem, exploring their themes, literary techniques, historical context, and their relevance to wider discussions about themes of love, relationships, gender roles, and societal norms of the early 20th century.
“Interview”
You can read this poem on Poetry Foundation’s website using the following link:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44830/interview-56d22412c4b44
- Analyze the theme of identity in the poem. How does the speaker’s identity unfold throughout the interview? What insights does the poem provide into the complexity of personal identity and how it can be shaped or manipulated in a public setting?
- Discuss the use of satire and irony in the poem. How does Parker employ these literary devices to critique societal expectations and the performative nature of interviews? What aspects of the interview process does she highlight as absurd or artificial?
- Reflect on the poem’s exploration of gender roles and expectations. How does Parker challenge traditional gender norms through the speaker’s responses and reactions during the interview? How does the poem comment on the challenges women face in navigating professional environments?
- Analyze the tone and mood of the poem. How does Parker’s use of language and imagery contribute to the overall atmosphere? How does the tone shift throughout the poem, and what effect does it have on the reader’s interpretation?
- Consider the role of power dynamics in the poem. How does the interviewer exert power and control over the speaker? How does the speaker respond to these power dynamics, and what does it reveal about her character and resilience?
- Reflect on the relevance of the poem to contemporary society. How does “Interview” resonate with issues of authenticity, self-presentation, and societal expectations in today’s world?
“Poem in the American Manner”
You can read this poem on Poetry Foundation’s website using the following link:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/58188/poem-in-the-american-manner
- Analyze the theme of disillusionment in the poem. How does Parker convey a sense of cynicism and disappointment with American society and its values? What aspects of American culture and society does she critique in the poem?
- Discuss the use of irony and satire in the poem. How does Parker employ these literary devices to highlight the contradictions and hypocrisies she sees in American life? What effect do these devices have on the overall tone and message of the poem?
- Reflect on the poem’s exploration of the American Dream. How does Parker challenge the notion of the American Dream and its promises of success and happiness?
- Analyze the language and imagery used in the poem. How does Parker’s choice of words and metaphors contribute to the poem’s critique of American society? What emotions and ideas do these literary devices evoke?
- Discuss the role of conformity and social pressure in the poem. How does Parker address the pressure to conform to societal norms and expectations? What does she suggest about the individual’s struggle for authenticity and the difficulty of maintaining a unique voice in American society?
- Reflect on the relevance of the poem to contemporary society. How does “Poem in the American Manner” resonate with issues of consumerism, materialism, and the pursuit of success in today’s world? What connections can be drawn between the themes of the poem and the challenges individuals face in navigating modern American culture?
“Love Song”
You can read this poem on Poetry Foundation’s website using the following link:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44831/love-song-56d224131a619
- Analyze the theme of love in the poem. How does Parker depict love and its complexities? What emotions and experiences associated with love does the poem explore?
- Discuss the use of irony in the poem. How does Parker employ irony to challenge conventional notions of love and romance? What effect does the use of irony have on the reader’s interpretation of the poem?
- Reflect on the speaker’s perspective on love. How does the speaker’s tone and language reveal their attitude towards love? What insights does the poem provide into the speaker’s thoughts and emotions regarding love and relationships?
- Explore the theme of unrequited love in the poem. How does the speaker convey a sense of longing and unfulfilled desire? How does the poem address the pain and frustration of unrequited love?
- Analyze the language and imagery used in the poem. How does Parker’s choice of words and metaphors contribute to the portrayal of love? What sensory details and vivid imagery does the poem employ to evoke the reader’s emotions?
- Reflect on the poem’s relevance to broader human experiences. How does “Love Song” resonate with universal themes of love, longing, and heartache? What connections can be made between the speaker’s feelings and the experiences of readers in their own lives?
Sources
“Dorothy Parker.” Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/dorothy-parker.
“Dorothy Parker Biography.” Academy of American Poets, www.poets.org/poet/dorothy-parker.
Meade, Marion. Dorothy Parker: What Fresh Hell Is This? Penguin Books, 1989.
Parker, Dorothy. “Interview.” The Portable Dorothy Parker, edited by Brendan Gill. Viking Penguin, 1926.
Parker, Dorothy. “Poem in the American Manner.” Complete Poems. Penguin, 2010.
Parker, Dorothy. “Love Song.” The Portable Dorothy Parker, edited by Brendan Gill. Viking Penguin, 1926.
The Algonquin Round Table was a group of New York City writers, critics and actors. Gathering initially as part of a practical joke, members of "The Vicious Circle," as they dubbed themselves, met for lunch each day at the Algonquin Hotel from 1919 until roughly 1929.
The Jazz Age (aka the roaring 20s) was a period in the 1920s and 1930s in which jazz music and dance styles gained worldwide popularity. Originating in New Orleans as mainly sourced from the culture of African Americans, jazz played a significant part in wider cultural changes in this period, and its influence on popular culture continued long afterwards.
Satire is the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.
Irony is the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.
Tone is the attitude that a character or narrator or author takes towards a given subject.
In literature, mood is the atmosphere of the narrative. Mood is created by means of setting, attitude, and descriptions.
Imagery is visual symbolism, or figurative language that evokes a mental image or other kinds of sense impressions.
A theme is a central topic, subject, or message within a narrative.
