Author
Flannery O'Connor
Summary
A family road trip turns toward catastrophe, setting up a final encounter that tests ideas of grace and goodness.
Literary Tradition
Southern Gothic
Major Themes
- —Grace
- —Violence
- —Faith and doubt
Historical Importance
A defining story of the Southern Gothic and a touchstone of 20th-century American short fiction.
Discussion Questions
- —How does the story use dark comedy?
- —What does the final conversation suggest about grace?
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