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Unit 4

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

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Unit 4

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  1. Unit 4 Regionalism and Naturalism

  2. 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

  3. 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)

  4. “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

  5. “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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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)

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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.”

  16. 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

  17. 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

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