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Unit 4. Regionalism and Naturalism. Realism (Regionalism and Naturalism are offshoots of this). Lit Movement developed in 19 th century Seeks to portray life accurately; depicted life objectively and honestly No sentimentality or idealism - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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UNIT 4Regionalism and Naturalism
Realism (Regionalism and Naturalism are offshoots of this)
Lit Movement developed in 19th century Seeks to portray life accurately; depicted
life objectively and honestly No sentimentality or idealism Often focuses on lower and middle
classes-ordinary people in ordinary situations
Historical context- Regionalism and Naturalism (1870-1910)
Post-Civil War (Reconstruction): Readmitting southern states to the Union
South left in ruins; people suffering more than ever; racism worse than before or during war
America lacks money, property, education; African-Americans lack respect and rights granted (equal rights and the vote)
“Gilded Age”- Named by Twain Wealthy did “everything but coat themselves in
gold”
Booming industries= railroad, meatpacking, steel, oil
Wealth gap Small group controlled a large portion of money
Rockefellers (oil) Vanderbilts (steel)
Inventions- model T and lightbulb
“Have-nots” Native Americans: pushed onto Reservations; fight
back (Sitting Bull, Chief Joseph of Nez Pierce
African-Americans- free, but pressed with Jim Crow laws- segregration
Immigrants- worked in crowded factories, cramped living areas; 16 hour days in sweatshops
Independent farmers struggled to keep farms
Ideas Many joined Populist Party/labor unions-tried to join
to protect rights
Laissez Faire v. Progressivism
Social Darwinism “Survival of the fittest”
Laissez Faire mentality= “Allow to do”
Progressives= alleviate injustices, government should DO something
Regionalism
People eager to hear about life in mining camps, cattle ranches, frontier towns- every day experience
Transcontinental railroad (westward expansion, travel, encounters with diversity)
Aim of writing- preserve cultural identity; capture imagination, alleviate prejudice: Twain and Harte
Literary Movement: Writers accurately represent actions, speech, dress, history, folklore, beliefs from specific geographic regions
Local Color Writing that brings a region alive by
portraying its dress, mannerisms, customs, character types, and speech
Ex- Jim from Huck Finn (The “First American Novel”)
Dialect, dress
Naturalism Inspired by Darwinism Offshoot of Realism
Harsh reality; We are helpless creatures moved by forces beyond control or understanding; fate is not in our hands
Jack London- tales of the arctic world- White Fang and The Call of the Wild
Women’s Rights Fighting for right to vote/education
Frustration with current state; lack of support and ability to express themselves
Reflected Naturalist ideas- forces beyond control
Explore madness, ruin, scandal, death!
Chopin and Gilman- bad marriages, dark mental state
Twain 1835-1910 Regionalist writer Samuel Langhorn Clemens Grew up in Hannibal, Missouri on MS River Worked in journalism industry Spent four years working on the river Inspired humorous sketches Panned for gold in West (Jumping Frog)
Twain contd. Traveled a lot- inspired writing greatly Employed humor- expert at Satire Wrote The Adventures of Huckleberry
Finn and Tom Sawyer Huck Finn- Greatest American Novel Faced bankruptcy, lost two daughters Delivered humorous speeches but dark,
angry writing toward end of life
A Tall Tale American form of storytelling Outlandish characters and events Based on oral tradition Uses various devices to impress listener:
Hyperbole Understatement Local Color
Techniques used in Tall Tales Hyperbole= exaggeration or overstating
a point
Understatement=downplaying the significance of the outlandish- meant to be ironic and humorous
Local Color=Writing that brings a region to life by portraying dress, mannerisms, customs, character types, and speech
Dialect Part of local color
Read slowly
Try to say it aloud
“You’d see that frog whirling in the air like a doughnut- see him turn one sommmerset.”
Short story review- Regionalism Notorious Jumping Frog (Tall Tale)- Page
684: Characters, Basic plot line, Local Color, Hyperbole, Understatement
Outcasts of Poker Flat (Page 698) Characters, Basic plot line, Local Color
Short Story Review- Naturalism “The Law of Life” p. 770- Jack London-
Characters, basic plot, Human connection with nature
“The Story of an Hour” p. 784- Kate Chopin- Characters, plot, irony