“Revelation”

Flannery O’Connor

The Beast Within Us How do we forget

the ties that bind us?

How do we turn against our fellow man?

How do we believe ourselves to be better than?

In each story, “an action that is totally unexpected, yet totally believable” (118), often an act of violence, “violence being the situation that best reveals what we are essentially” (113).

--O’Connor, Mystery and Manners

Flannery O’Connor 1925-1964 O’Connor’s fiction Addresses the idea of

the beast within, or the grotesque.

“action of grace in an area held largely by the devil”

“an action that is totally unexpected, but totally believable”

Violence Evoke Christian

mystery through violence.

“…in my own stories I have found that violence is strangely capable of returning my characters to reality and preparing them to accept their moment of grace.”

Racism Is this a racist

story? Language. Setting. History.

Mrs. Turpin Describe Mrs.

Turpin’s thought patterns.

What does she believe?

What does she know to be true about herself?

Is she a sinner?

Mary Grace Is Mary Grace

possessed? Why is she so

angry with Mrs. Turpin?

What does her name mean?

Does she represent Divine Wrath?

The Act of Violence Why does the book

strike Mrs. Turpin in the eye?

Warthog from Hell Why is Mrs. Turpin

so upset over being called a warthog from hell?

Why does Mrs. Turpin pride herself on having clean hogs?

Setting Why is the story

set in a doctor’s office?

Mrs. Turpin’s Anger Who is Mrs. Turpin

angry with? Why?

“Revelation” What does the title

mean? What does Mrs.

Turpin learn about herself?

Critical Thinking How does

“Revelation” contribute to our class discussion on the theme of social justice?