1. What effect has Mr. O'Neill's life experience had upon the quality of his plays? 2. What evidence of originality do you find in his (1) themes, (2) background, and (3) technique? 3. Consider the influence of Joseph Conrad (cf. Manly and Rickert, _Contemporary British Literature_) upon O'Neill. Read especially _The Nigger of the "Narcissus."_ 4. How has Mr. O'Neill been influenced by the plays of John Millington Synge? 5. What do you make of the fact that Mr. O'Neill has struck out in various directions instead of working a particular vein? 6. What reasons do you find for the common opinion that he is our most promising dramatist? What limitations or weaknesses do you think may interfere with his development? Do you think he will become a great dramatist? BIBLIOGRAPHY Thirst, and Other One-Act Plays. 1914. (The Web, Warnings, Fog, Recklessness.) Before Breakfast. 1916. The Moon of the Caribbees, and Other Plays of the Sea. 1919. (Bound East for Cardiff; The Long Voyage Home; In the Zone; Ile; Where the Cross is Made; The Rope.) *Chris Christopherson. 1919. (Produced as Anna Christie, quoted with illustrations, Cur. Op. 72 ['22]: 57.) *Beyond the Horizon. 1920. Gold. 1920. The Emperor Jones; Diff'rent; The Straw. 1921. The Hairy Ape; Anna Christie; The First Man. 1922. STUDIES AND REVIEWS Bookm. 53 ('21): 511; 54 ('22): 463. Century, 103 ('22): 351 (portrait). Cur. Op. 65 ('18): 159 (portrait); 68 ('20): 339. Everybody's, 43 ('20): July, p. 49 (portrait). Freeman, 1 ('20): 44. Ind. 105 ('21): 158 (portrait). Nation, 113 ('21): 626. New Repub. 25 ('21): 173. Theatre Arts M. 4 ('20): 286; 5 ('21): 174 (portrait only). +James Oppenheim+--novelist, short-story writer, poet. Born at St. Paul, Minnesota, 1882. Two years later his family moved to New York, where he has lived ever since. Special student at Columbia, 1901-3. Has done settlement work, as assistant head worker of the Hudson Guild Settlement. Superintendent of the Hebrew Technical School for Girls, 1904-7. In 1916-7 edited the magazine, _The Seven Arts_ (cf. _Poetry_, 9 ['16-'17]: 214). SUGGESTIONS FOR READING 1. The following influences have entered largely into Oppenheim's work: Whitman, the Bible, and the theories of psycho-analysis developed by Freud and Jung. Without considering these, no fair estimate of the value of his work can be reached. 2. In what respects does his poetry reflect the Oriental temperament? 3. What strength do you find in his work? what weakness? BIBLIOGRAPHY