Regionalism and Naturalism Unit 4 Regionalism 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