Owen Dodson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Owen Dodson
|
|
|---|---|
| Born | 28 November 1914  Brooklyn |
| Died | 21 June 1983 (aged 68) New York City |
| Alma mater |
|
| Occupation | Playwright |
| Employer | |
| Awards |
|
Owen Vincent Dodson (November 28, 1914 – June 21, 1983) was an American writer. He wrote poems, novels, and plays. He was one of the most important African-American poets of his time. He was part of the generation of black poets who came after the famous Harlem Renaissance. He even received a special award called a fellowship from the Rosenwald Foundation for a series of his short plays.
Contents
About Owen Dodson
Owen Dodson was born in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He went to Bates College and then to the Yale School of Drama. He taught at Howard University from 1940 to 1970. At Howard, he was the head of the Drama Department. He also taught for a short time at Spelman College and Atlanta University.
A writer named James V. Hatch said that Dodson's work was shaped by two main things. These were the experiences of black people in America and a classic education in the humanities.
His Poetry
Dodson's poems were very diverse. They covered many different topics, styles, and forms. Sometimes he wrote in a black dialect, which is a way of speaking. Other times, he used ideas and phrases from classical poetry and plays.
He was friends with poets like W. H. Auden and William Stanley Braithwaite. However, it was hard to say exactly who influenced his writing the most. In an interview, he explained that all writers are influenced by others when they start. He said that the rhythms of Langston Hughes and the structured style of Countee Cullen influenced him. He compared it to how famous composers like Bach, Haydn, Beethoven, and Brahms influenced each other. He said that like a child who imitates a parent, a writer learns from others. But as they grow, they find their own unique style.
His Plays and Novels
In his plays, Dodson said that Henrik Ibsen was an early influence. But he later developed his own unique style. Dodson also wrote two novels. Many people believe these novels tell stories from his own life.
Owen Dodson passed away in 1983 from heart disease. He was 68 years old.
Owen Dodson's Works
Owen Dodson created many different types of written works during his life.
Poetry Collections
- Powerful Long Ladder (1946)
- The Confession Stone: Song Cycles (1970)
- Some poems from The Confession Stone were even turned into music by composer Robert Fleming in 1968.
- The Harlem Book of the Dead (1978). This was a special project with photographer James Van Der Zee and artist Camille Billops.
Plays
- Bayou Legend
- Divine Comedy
- Till Victory Is Won
- New World A-Coming
- Garden of Time (1945)
- The Confession Stone (1960)
Novels
- Boy at the Window (1951)
- Come Home Early, Child (1967)
Where to Find His Papers
If you want to learn more about Owen Dodson, his writings and other materials are kept in special collections:
- Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Howard University
- Countee-Cullen-Harold Jackman Collection, Atlanta University
- James Weldon Johnson Collection, Yale University
- Hatch-Billops Collection, New York, New York.
