"In Hmong Mountain": See Lee's oral narrative as history and poetry
Author(s):
Wilson, Karen Sue Harper
Format:
Thesis
Degree granted:
M.A.
Publisher:
Ann Arbor : California State University, Long Beach, 1995.
Pages:
137
Language:
English
Abstract:
In this thesis, I explore oral history in an interdisciplinary approach as literature, history and performance by developing an experimental "organic" free verse transcription scheme. I apply the poetic scheme to an oral narrative and analyze the resulting text for literary and historical meaning. The goals are to strive for accuracy by writing the narrative word for word in the order spoken, to incorporate performance emphasis, and to create poetic lines that enhance meaning. This approach maintains the subjectivity of the narrator by preserving her unique use of language. I applied the experiment to See Lee's narrative about Hmong struggles against oppression in Southeast Asia. The creative solution helps to emphasize the power of her artistic use of irregular English, reveal the influence of Hmong poetic song/chants on the narrative's structure and content, and highlight the importance of her family and ethnic community centered historical perspective.