Realism, Regionalism, & NaturalismThe 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

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 offEach 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…

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”?