V. Literature of the Gilded Age V. Literature of the Gilded Age (1865 – 1912)(1865 – 1912)

Mark TwainMark Twain

LifeLife

WorksWorks

Huck FinnHuck Finn

Gilded Age - characteristicsGilded Age - characteristics

UrbanizationUrbanization

IndustrializationIndustrialization

ImmigrationImmigration

Mark TwainMark Twain

Transition figureTransition figure

Work published Work published after Civil Warafter Civil War

Associated with Associated with antebellum eraantebellum era

Twain - LifeTwain - Life

Born in Hannibal, Born in Hannibal, MO (1835) as MO (1835) as Samuel ClemensSamuel Clemens

Worked on Miss. Worked on Miss. steamboatssteamboats

Fought in Civil WarFought in Civil War Journalist after war Journalist after war

in California & in California & NevadaNevada

Twain - LifeTwain - Life

Published ”Jumping Frog” in 1869Published ”Jumping Frog” in 1869 Later moved East – full-time writer, Later moved East – full-time writer,

lecturerlecturer Nationally famousNationally famous Personal troubles lead to ”Great Personal troubles lead to ”Great

Dark” period in 1890sDark” period in 1890s Dies in Connecticut (1910)Dies in Connecticut (1910)

Twain - lifeTwain - life

HumoristHumorist Southwestern humorSouthwestern humor Tall taleTall tale Realist Realist Anti-imperialistAnti-imperialist

ContradictionsContradictions

Associated w/ WestAssociated w/ West

Associated w/ Associated w/ antebellum eraantebellum era

Known as humoristKnown as humorist

Wrote about simple Wrote about simple manman

Lived mostly in EastLived mostly in East

All works written All works written after Civil Warafter Civil War

Cynical at end of lifeCynical at end of life

Very money-Very money-consciousconscious

Twain - WorksTwain - Works

““Jumping Frog of Calaveras Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” County” (1865)(1865)

Innocents AbroadInnocents Abroad (1869) (1869) The Gilded Age (1873)The Gilded Age (1873) Tom Sawyer Tom Sawyer  (1876) (1876) Huck FinnHuck Finn (1883) (1883) Connecticut YankeeConnecticut Yankee (1889) (1889)

Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn

""All modern American literature comes from All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn.Finn. IIf you read it you must stop where the f you read it you must stop where the Nigger Jim is stolen from the boys. That is the Nigger Jim is stolen from the boys. That is the real end. The rest is just cheating. But it's the real end. The rest is just cheating. But it's the best book we've had. All American writing best book we've had. All American writing comes from that. There was nothing before. comes from that. There was nothing before. There has been nothing as good since." There has been nothing as good since."

Ernest Hemingway, Ernest Hemingway, Green Hills of Africa,Green Hills of Africa, 1935 1935

Huck FinnHuck Finn - Reception - Reception

Criticized in 1880s when it first Criticized in 1880s when it first appearedappeared Banned by Concord LibraryBanned by Concord Library Why?Why?

Criticized today for different reasonCriticized today for different reason On list of ”Most Challenged Books” from On list of ”Most Challenged Books” from

1990-2001990-20077 by ALA by ALA Why?Why?

ALA list of most challenged ALA list of most challenged books books

1990-991990-991.1. Scary StoriesScary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz (Series) by Alvin Schwartz 2.2. Daddy’s RoommateDaddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite by Michael Willhoite 3.3. I Know Why the Caged Bird SingsI Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou by Maya Angelou 4.4. The Chocolate WarThe Chocolate War by Robert Cormier by Robert Cormier 5.5. The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain by Mark Twain 6.6. Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men by John Steinbeck by John Steinbeck 7.7. Harry PotterHarry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling (Series) by J.K. Rowling 8.8. ForeverForever by Judy Blume by Judy Blume 9.9. Bridge to TerabithiaBridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson by Katherine Paterson 10.10. AliceAlice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor 11.11. Heather Has Two MommiesHeather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman by Leslea Newman

ALA list of most challenged ALA list of most challenged books books

2000-072000-071. 1. Harry PotterHarry Potter, by J.K. Rowling, by J.K. Rowling

2. 2. Alice seriesAlice series, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor , by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

3. 3. The Chocolate WarThe Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier , by Robert Cormier

4. 4. Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck , by John Steinbeck

5. 5. I Know Why the Caged Bird SingsI Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou , by Maya Angelou

6. 6. Scary StoriesScary Stories, by Alvin Schwartz , by Alvin Schwartz

7. 7. Fallen AngelsFallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers , by Walter Dean Myers

8. 8. It’s Perfectly NormalIt’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris , by Robie Harris

9. 9. And Tango Makes ThreeAnd Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson/Peter , by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell Parnell

10. 10. Captain UnderpantsCaptain Underpants, by Dav Pilkey, by Dav Pilkey

11. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn 11. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twainby Mark Twain

ALA most challenged books ALA most challenged books - 2013- 2013

1) Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey2) The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison3) The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie4) Fifty Shades of Grey, by E.L. James5) The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins6) A Bad Boy Can Be Good for A Girl, by Tanya Lee Stone7) Looking for Alaska, by John Green8) The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky9) Bless Me Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya10) Bone (series), by Jeff Smith

Huck FinnHuck Finn

““Good gracious! anybody hurt?” Good gracious! anybody hurt?”

““No’m. Killed a nigger.” No’m. Killed a nigger.”

““Well, it’s lucky; because sometimes Well, it’s lucky; because sometimes people do get hurt. people do get hurt.

Huck FinnHuck Finn - innovations - innovations

Language Language

Perspective of Perspective of common mancommon man

Huck FinnHuck Finn – major themes – major themes

Search for freedomSearch for freedom

Social satireSocial satire

Development of HuckDevelopment of Huck

Huck FinnHuck Finn

Two major problems with Two major problems with novels?novels?

Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn

1.1. Logic of fleeing southward.Logic of fleeing southward.

2.2. Tom & Huck freeing Jim at end.Tom & Huck freeing Jim at end.

Reactions to endingReactions to ending

HemingwayHemingway

Ralph EllisonRalph Ellison

Toni MorrisonToni Morrison

Charles ChesnuttCharles Chesnutt

Born in NorthBorn in North ““Free person of Free person of

color”color” Doctor, authorDoctor, author Explores mixed-Explores mixed-

race issuesrace issues passingpassing

Charles ChestnuttCharles Chestnutt

““The Wife of His The Wife of His Youth”Youth”

The Conjure The Conjure WomanWoman

““The Goophered The Goophered Grapevine”Grapevine”

Status of mulattoStatus of mulatto In white societyIn white society In black societyIn black society

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Realism & NaturalismRealism & Naturalism

Ambrose BierceAmbrose Bierce

Stephen CraneStephen Crane