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California NoirCalifornia NoirSelections fromSelections from InlandiaInlandia

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California Noir QuestionsCalifornia Noir Questions

1. Identify the noir archetypes apparent in thisselection: common man/hero, villain/evil, femmefatale, etc.

2. What makes this story noir?

3. How does the noir tone counter the CA GoldenDream promise?

4. How/why does the author use certain familiaraspects (settings, characters, etc.) to create a noirtone?

5. Write 3 under-the-surface/analytical questionsabout this story OR write 3 paragraphs about what

happens next in the story.

Answer the questions below for the Gardner,

Chandler & Didion selectionschoose ONE readingselection from either Steinbeck, Jones, Straight orSilverYou will be answering the five questions for atotal of 4 different reading selections:

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Selections fromSelections from InlandiaInlandia Erle Stanley Gardner, fromErle Stanley Gardner, from Blood RedBlood Red

GoldGold (136) (136)

Raymond Chandler, fromRaymond Chandler, from The Lady inThe Lady inthe Lakethe Lake (157) (157)

Joan Didion, fromJoan Didion, from Some Dreamers ofSome Dreamers ofthe Golden Dreamthe Golden Dream (233) (233)

John Steinbeck, fromJohn Steinbeck, from The Grapes ofThe Grapes ofWrathWrath (143) (143)

E.J. Jones, Grass Green (315)E.J. Jones, Grass Green (315)

Susan Straight, fromSusan Straight, from The GettinThe GettinPlacePlace (296) (296)

Marisa Silver, The God of War (275)Marisa Silver, The God of War (275)

Erle Stanley Gardner, fromErle Stanley Gardner, from Blood RedBlood RedGoldGold (136) (136)

Raymond Chandler, fromRaymond Chandler, from The Lady inThe Lady inthe Lakethe Lake (157) (157)

Joan Didion, fromJoan Didion, from Some Dreamers ofSome Dreamers ofthe Golden Dreamthe Golden Dream (233) (233)

John Steinbeck, fromJohn Steinbeck, from The Grapes ofThe Grapes ofWrathWrath (143) (143)

E.J. Jones, Grass Green (315)E.J. Jones, Grass Green (315)

Susan Straight, fromSusan Straight, from The GettinThe GettinPlacePlace (296) (296)

Marisa Silver, The God of War (275)Marisa Silver, The God of War (275)

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Erle Stanley GardnerErle Stanley Gardner Born July 17, 1889, Malden,

Mass., U.S. and died March11, 1970, in Temecula,California.

Practiced trial law. Whilepracticing trial law, he wrotepulp fiction, basing the

courtroom scenes andbrilliant legal maneuvers onhis own tactics.

He gave up law following thesuccess in 1933 of The Case ofthe Velvet Claws and The Caseof the Sulky Girl, his first

novels featuring the lawyer-detective Perry Mason.

EightyPerry Mason novelsfollowed.

EventuallyPerry Masonbecame a long-running TV

series with Raymond Burr asthe title character.

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Raymond ChandlerRaymond Chandler 18881888--1959: Born in Chicago, but raised in England.1959: Born in Chicago, but raised in England.

Chandler began writing stories for crime fiction magazineChandler began writing stories for crime fiction magazineBlack MaskBlack Mask..

He is best known for his tough but honest private detectiveHe is best known for his tough but honest private detectivePhilip Marlowe, the name originating from the English 16thPhilip Marlowe, the name originating from the English 16thcentury writer Christopher Marlowe, who had a violentcentury writer Christopher Marlowe, who had a violenttemper.temper.

As representative and master of hardAs representative and master of hard--boiled school of crimeboiled school of crimefiction, Chandler criticized classical writers for their lack offiction, Chandler criticized classical writers for their lack ofrealism.realism.

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Joan DidionJoan Didion

Born December 5, 1934 inBorn December 5, 1934 in

Sacramento, CA.Sacramento, CA.

Best known as a novelist andBest known as a novelist and

writer of personalized,writer of personalized,

journalistic essays.journalistic essays. Her essays and novels focusHer essays and novels focus

on the disintegration ofon the disintegration of

American morals andAmerican morals and

cultural chaos.cultural chaos.

The overriding theme of herThe overriding theme of herwork is individual and socialwork is individual and social

fragmentation & a sense offragmentation & a sense of

anxiety or dread permeatesanxiety or dread permeates

much of her work.much of her work.