"Dancing Bear"

Paper Summary:

This paper relates that Vanderhaeghe's own past is clearly an important factor in the themes that he explores as well as in the setting, plot and character elements of his stories. The paper discusses the character of Dieter, from "Dancing Bear", who is an old man that dreams of his younger self and the experiences he had with bears. The paper also shows how the social and literary contexts of the Canadian prairies in the second half of the twentieth century influenced Vanderhaeghe when he wrote "Dancing Bear".

From the Paper:

"As someone who has lived in Saskatchewan for most of his life, Guy Vanderhaeghe is very adept at describing characters and scenes that evoke the Canadian prairies in the twentieth century. This knowledge of and pride in his home province is particularly evident in his short story, Dancing Bear. Vanderhaeghe's own past is clearly an important factor in his work, both in relation to the themes that he explores as well as in the setting, plot and character elements of these stories (Parker). Additionally, the social and literary contexts of the Canadian prairies in the second half of the 20th century have affected Dancing Bear specifically, and Vanderhaeghe's work in general."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Gerry, Tom. "Violence and Narrative Metalepsis in Guy Vanderhaeghe's Fiction." Studies in Canadian Literature, 12.2 (1987): 34 pars. 31 Oct. 2006 http://www.lib.unb.ca/Texts/SCL/bin/get.cgi?directory=vol12_2/&filename=Gerry.htm
• Parker, James. "Feet firmly planted - Vanderhaeghe remaines regular, humble guy." Saskatoon StarPhoenix 28 March 1998. 31 Oct. 2006 http://www.saskpublishers.sk.ca/sampler/spotlight/guy3.htm
• Thorpe, Michael. "Absorbed by his dream." Canadian Forum, 64 (1984): 35.
• Vanderhaeghe, Guy. "Dancing Bear." New Oxford Book of Canadian Short Stories. Eds. Margaret Atwood and Robert Weaver. Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press, 1996. 367-378.
• Vanderhaeghe, Guy. "History and Fiction." Canadian Journal of History, 40.3 (2005): 429-430.

More papers on "Dancing Bear":

• Book Review # 126417 : "'The Dancing Bear' and Figurative Language"
• Analytical Essay # 130174 : "The Man Behind "Dancing Bear"
• Book Review # 98202 : "Blue Winds Dancing"

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