Realism, Regionalism, & Naturalism The writers and their stories

Defining the Literary Period Realism: attempts to portray life as it is, without romantic idealism. Characters are ordinary people in ordinary situations Characters written about in an objective way Naturalism: like realism, wanted to portray life as it actually was Viewed people as helpless victims of natural laws (hereditary, environment)

Ambrose Bierce Author background Style and Theme Enlisted in Union army at 18 Fought in several major battles of Civil War After Civil War, moved west to San Fran Started journalism career Style and Theme Known for cynical (bitter) humor and cruel wit Futility of war

“Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” Literary Elements Point of view: the narrative perspective from which a story is told 1st person: the narrator is a character in the story and describes events using I, me, we, my 3rd person: events are related by a voice outside the action, using words like he, she, they 3rd person Omniscient: aware of all characters’ thoughts 3rd person Limited: focuses only on one character’s thoughts Stream of Consciousness: character’s thoughts are presented as the mind experiences them, without obvious logic

“Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” Structure This short story is arranged in three numbered sections Change of section indicates a change in time Section I: at the execution Section II: flashback Section III: picks up where Section I left off Each section contains a shift in POV—pay attention as you read to where POV shifts.

“Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” Table work: looking at each of the three sections in this story, determine the important events for each section and the POV the section is told from. Each section contains multiple points of view…figure out When POV changes—quote a line from the story How does the POV affect the level of suspense? Then find three examples of foreshadowing that help to indicate the Peyton’s escape is only in his mind.

Stephen Crane (1871-1900) Grew up in the slums of Asbury Park, NJ Attended college at Syracuse—never graduated Became a journalist after leaving college First book, Maggie: A Girl of the streets Censored because of the content—the life of a prostitute in the slums Becomes a literary sensation with second novel, The Red Badge of Courage Exposed American readers to the brutality of war

“An Episode of War” Literary Focus--Naturalism Subjects: common people in ordinary life situations Focus: emphasized how instinct and environment affect human behavior Influenced by Darwin’s Theory of Evolution and Natural Selection Believed human fate is determined by forces beyond individual control, but that force isn’t God; it’s nature or social forces that determine our fate Presents a bleak reality without explanation, letting the reader draw her own conclusions

“An Episode of War” Literary Focus Setting--As you read, focus on the details that Crane includes to describe the setting that allow you to visualize the characters, settings and events.

“An Episode of War” Naturalist writers strove to show people as hapless victims of circumstances beyond their control; these forces include hereditary, environment (nature), and sheer chance. Characters are often victims of their own (bad) instincts or of a violent world Characters endure suffering quietly, with honor

“An Episode of War” Discuss as a class… Tablework...in your notes. How is the lieutenant a victim of chance? Why does Crane leave the lieutenant nameless? Tablework...in your notes. Identify three descriptions of human actions in the story that could also describe the actions of animals. After he is shot, several of the men attempt acts of kindness toward the lieutenant. Identify one gesture of kindness shown to the lieutenant and explain why it fails. Naturalism focused on the dignified suffering of people who face forces they can’t control. Identify two examples of the lieutenant’s dignified suffering.

Jack London (1876-1916) Grew up EXTREMELY poor in San Francisco Began working full time as an unskilled laborer at age 11 Books were an escape from his life Inspired him to travel Graduated from high school; attended one semester of college before heading to Alaska to find gold Taught him about people’s desire for wealth and power Our inability to control the forces of nature (naturalism) First literary success, The Call of the Wild (1903)

Jack London Literary Focus: Naturalism Conflict: the struggle between opposing forces Internal: occurs within the mind of a character External Man V. Society Man V. Man Man V. Nature Man V. Fate/God In “To Build a Fire” the setting serves as the opposing force

Jack London Literary Focus: Imagery and setting Table Work Analyzing imagery and setting for hints of foreshadowing Find three examples of imagery from the beginning of the story until it is noon (page 601) that hint the man may not survive this journey Find three examples of the dog’s feelings and instincts about survival from anywhere in the story How do the dog’s feeling and instincts increase the dramatic irony?

Kate Chopin (1851-1904) Raised in the Midwest (Missouri) Father died in RR accident when Chopin was 5 Well educated Widowed at 31 years old—left to raise 6 children and manage her husband’s business on her own First published in 1889 Stories often focused on women seeking independence from male dominated society

“The Story of an Hour” Literary Elements: Setting: turn of the century (1900) Custom and law limited women’s actions and control over their own lives No right to vote Could not own property Educational and Employment opportunities severely limited Married women were expected to be subservient to and supportive of their husbands

“The Story of an Hour” Literary Elements: Irony Verbal Irony: occurs when someone says something that deliberately contradicts what that person actually means Situational irony: occurs when something happens that contradicts THE READER’S expectations Dramatic Irony: occurs when the reader/audience knows something that the characters/actors do not know.

Questions to think about: Table work How do Richards and Josephine expect Mrs. Mallard to react to the news? How do their expectations help to guide our expectations? What is ironic and how is irony it displayed in this story? How would you describe the Mallard’s marriage? Is Mrs. Mallard justified in her reaction to the news? Does she hate her husband or the institution of marriage? What does the author mean by having Mrs. Mallard say, “Free, free, free”?