LIT 2090: Reports on Narrators in Killing Mister Watson

Reports on Narrators in Killing Mr. Watson by Peter Matthiessen

Each student will choose a different narrator from the novel. In an oral report and a written essay you will follow that narrator's story and describe his or her character and style. Of course, you must read the entire novel to understand how the narrator interacts with and connects to the other characters and the community. Discuss the effect of the narrative mode (e.g. diary, dramatic monologue, memoir, newspaper article, etc). If the account was originally published in a different format and Matthiessen included it in the novel (i.e. #11-16 below), discuss the reason you think Matthiessen included the account in the novel and its impact on the telling of the tale. If you choose one of the other books (i.e. #17-21 below), you do not have to read Killing Mister Watson, although you certainly are encouraged to.
Your essay and report should take into consideration the following questions:

1. Are there any historical records available about the narrator? (Try genealogy sites on the Internet or local and state records). Some of the characters are historical, but some are fictitious; obviously, you will not be able to find historical records about the fictitious characters.

2. What is the mode of narration (diary, dramatic monologue, interior monologue, memoir, editorial, stream-of-consciousness, etc.) How does this mode affect the story told? See: Narrative Stances and Modes of Narration.

3. What are the family relationships of this narrator and how do they affect his/her perceptions of the story? (See links to family trees in the novel: http://faculty.mccfl.edu/jonesj/lit2090/Matthiessen.html#families.

4. What kind of a relationship did the narrator have with Mr. Watson? How does that relationship affect his/her story?

5. What is the familial/social/work/political position of the narrator in the society of the Ten Thousand Islands? How does that position affect the narrator's perceptions?

6. Describe the character of the narrator. Is s/he reliable? If not, why not?

7. If a personal account, describe the stylistic qualities of the narration. Has Matthiessen succeeded in creating an individual and recognizable style for this narrator?

8. In an account written by someone other than Matthiessen (#11-16, #17, #21), discuss how this variant view affects the reader's perceptions of the events and times.

Narrators in Killing Mister Watson by Peter Matthiessen

PERSONAL ACCOUNTS	PAGES
1.Henry Thompson	pp. 11-20, 59-65, 74-81, 128-144
2. Richard Hamilton	pp. 24-42, 97-104
3. Bill House	pp. 47-57, 82-94, 176-178, 202-204, 225-226, 232-235, 253-254, 309-312, 315-323, 325-337
4. Carrie Watson Langford	pp. 66-73, 114-127, 188-193, 221-224, 362-372
5. Sarah Johnson Hamilton	pp. 105-109, 148-150
6. John Leon Hamilton	pp. 151-172
7. Frank B. Tippins	pp. 182-187, 194-201, 293-308, 345-361
8. Mamie House Smallwood	pp. 205-218, 236-243, 276-277, 281-283, 313-314, 340-341
9. Sammie Hamilton	pp. 244-249, 255-261, 284-286, 290-292
10. Hoad Storter	pp. 262-274, 278-280, 324-326, 343-344
WRITTEN ACCOUNTS
*11. Interviews for History of Southwest Florida: Dr. Herlong's account and Surgeon General Thomas Lawson's journal*	pp. 21-23, pp. 42-46
12. Watson and Ed. Brewer, Watson and cattlemen	pp. 95-96, pp. 110-113
13. Memoir of Marie Martin St. John and Anthony and Julian Dimock's Florida Enchantments	pp. 145-147, pp. 173-175
14. Rumors and lore of Watson's murders	pp. 179-181, 219-220
*15. C.G. McKinney in The American Eagle, 1909, 1910*	pp. 227-23, 250-252
16. Newspaper Accounts: Estero, October, 20, 1910, Fort Meyers, October 20, 1910,Estero, October 20, 1910, Chokoloskee, October 21, 1910, Fort Meyers, October 30, 1910, Chokoloskee, October 27, 1910, Fort Meyers, October 27, 1910	pp. 275, 287-289, 338-339, 342
OUTSIDE THE NOVEL ACCOUNTS
17. Ted Smallwood's account in The Story of Chokoloskee Bay Country by Charlton Tebeau	MCC Library (Bradenton): F317.C7 T43. Probably also available in local public libraries
18. Lucius Watson's account in Lost Man's River by Peter Matthiessen	MCC Library: PS3563.A8584 L67 1998 Should also be available at local bookstores and public libraries
19. Rob Watson's account in Lost Man's River by Peter Matthiessen	MCC Library: PS3563.A8584 L67 1998 Should also be available at local bookstores and public libraries
20. Ed Watson's account in Bone by Bone by Peter Matthiessen	MCC Library: PS3563.A8584 B66 2000 Should also be available at local bookstores and public libraries
21. Totch Brown's story in his Totch: A Life in the Everglades	MCC Library (Venice): F317.E9 B76 1993. Should also be available at local bookstores and public libraries

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