By: Leigh Anne Tuck, Emily Fox, and Julia McMath.

HistoryDuring this time period President Abraham Lincoln was

assassinated. He was part of the realism time period, as being a “larger-than-life” hero.

The civil war went on during this time period, and Ambrose Bierce was in the union army. He was wounded near the end of the war.

The telephone was invented during this time period and came into use.

Railroads were being built all across the United States during this time period.

Labor unions were changing the lives of workers across the nation by getting them better wages, hours, and working conditions.

Labor unions were brought about by work reform movements that would work with employers to get workers better welfare and wages.

In the early 1900’s the NAACP was founded. It worked to help end violence and discrimination against African-Americans.

ThemesRealism-Used the language of ordinary people.

Life how it was really livedNo “larger than life” heroes in perfect settings.

Realism (continued)

Examined the problems and conditions around them.

Feared that success= greed, materialism, corruption

Questioned “rags to riches” success

Explored new economic conditions

Regionalism/ Local Color-

Focused on: the dialect customs characters of particular regions,

often humorous, as social commentary.

Naturalism-Most extreme, pessimistic of realists

Believed that people couldn’t make moral choices.

Characters were controlled by their economic, social, or geological forces

Heredity, environment, and economics determine a person’s destiny.

Humans are at the mercy of forces beyond their control.

Naturalism (continued)

Heredity, environment, and economics determine a person’s destiny.

Humans are at the mercy of forces beyond their control.

Types of LiteratureShort stories-A short piece of fiction. Like a novel, only

shorter and usually has a simpler plot and setting.

Novels-A work of fictionUsually has a complex plot, lots of major

and minor characters, a significant theme, and several varied settings.

Types of literature (continued)

Poetry-One of the three major types of Literature. Often divided into lines and stanzas and

often have regular rhythmical patterns or meters.

Most have imagery, figurative language, and rhyme.

Travel books-A book about a persons travel.

Characteristics of Writing Irony

a difference between what is written and what really happens

Symbolism Realistic details used to express emotions by

using a pattern of symbols.

Anticlimax- Thinking the book or writing is going to lead

to something really good, but doesn’t end up good.

Characteristics of writing (continued)

Regional dialect-Writing how a certain region talks. ex: “ ‘Rev. Leonidas W. H’m, Reverend Le- well

there was a feller here once by the name of Jim Smiley…’” From “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras Country” by Mark Twain.

Humor-Funny

Comic Relief-Similar to humor.ex: slipping on a banana peal.

Mark Twain (1835-1910) Born in Hannibal, Missouri Born-Samuel Langhorne

Clemens Little to no formal education-

didn’t attend high school or college

Father died-1847. Left family in great debt. Worked in print shop with brother.

Famous Works- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Innocents Abroad, Roughing It, Life On the Mississippi, Pudd’nhead Wilson

Kate Chopin (1850-1904)

Born Kate O’Flaherty in St. Louis, Missouri

Daughter of wealthy businessman- dies in 1855

Home schooled by mother, grandmother, and great grandmother

Sacred Heart Academy in 1868

Marries Oscar Chopin at twenty years old

Famous Works- At Fault, Bayou Folk, A Night In Acadie, The Awakening

Stephen Crane (1871-1900)

Born in Newark, New Jersey Youngest son of Methodist

minister-died when Crane was 8

Attended Lafayette College and Syracuse University

Worked as newspaper columnist in New York City

Famous works: Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, The Red Badge of Courage: An Episode of the American Civil War, War Is Kind, The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky

Bret Harte (1836-1902)

Born in Albany, New York 1858-Traveled to California,

various jobs Became editor of Overland

Monthly Later Years-Diplomat Famous Works:

Outcroppings, The Lost Galleon, The Luck of Roaring Camp and Other Sketches

Jack London (1876-1916)

Born in San Francisco, California

Born into poverty-illegitimate child-adopted step- fathers name

As a teen, never went to high school, completed it in one year when he was older

Attended one semester of University of California

First American writer to earn more then $1,000,000 dollars

Famous Works: The Call of the Wild, The Sea Wolf, White Fang

Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914?)

Born into poverty in Ohio; raised on farm in Indiana

Learned from reading father’s books

Attended Military Academy in Kentucky

Served in Union Army during the Civil War

Famous Works: Tales of Soldiers and Civilians, Can Such Things Be?, The Devil’s Dictionary

The gold rush happened in 1848. During this period a lot of people went to California in search of gold. Because of this the population increased.

The civil war happened from 1861-1865. This was a major event during our time period. During this time period the country was split in two (north and south).

The railroad changed the way people moved across the country. They could get from place to place much quicker. This happened during our time period.

The telephone was invented during this time period. It changed the way people communicate. It allowed quick communication compared to letters.

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