1. “The Outcasts of Poker Flat” Bret Harte
Regionalism
“The Outcasts of Poker Flat”
Bret Harte

2. BIG IDEA - Regionalism (1880)
After the Civil War
Also known as the local color movement
Portrayed the traits of particular areas of the United States
Attempted to describe the landscape, speech, customs, and other cultural details of their chosen region

3. Bret Harte Born in New York but went west when he was 18
One of the best paid writers of his time
$10,000 for 12 stories
Moved to Boston to write
Died of throat cancer at 66
The characters in Western films are modeled after Harte’s stereotypes

4. Harte’s Stories
Told stories of the rude, lawless life of the California gold-mining country
Authors focused on real people, small towns, and regional lifestyles in order to remember the country before the Civil War

5. Important Literary Elements in Regionalism
Dialect (“Why blame my cats, if he don’t weigh five pound!”) – “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”
Setting – Page 469
Characterization

6. LITERARY ELEMENT - Characterization
The methods a writer uses to reveal the personality of a character
-Direct characterization
-Indirect characterization
-Round character
-Flat character
-Dynamic character
-Static character

7. Direct characterization
writer makes clear statements about a character

8. Indirect characterization
the writer reveals a character through what other characters think or say or what that character says or thinks

9. Round Character
Characters who show varied and sometimes contradictory traits

10. Flat Character
Characters who reveal only one personality trait

11. Dynamic Character
Grows and changes during the story

12. Static Character
Remains basically the same throughout the story

13. READING STRATEGY – Making Generalizations
A broad statement based on a few facts, descriptions, or examples

14. VOCABULARY
Impropriety
Malevolence
Equanimity
Hypothesis
Seclusion

15. Impropriety The quality of being improper; inappropriate behavior
EX: Newspapers accused the mayor of impropriety when he hired his relatives.

16. Malevolence A disposition to wish harm to others; ill will
EX: The bully’s malevolence caused other children to fear him.

17. Equanimity Evenness of temper; calmness
The teacher became known for her equanimity during disruptions.

18. Hypothesis An unproved explanation or assumption
Sharon’s hypothesis was that a tree branch was causing the tapping sound.

19. Seclusion Separation from others; isolation
Seeking seclusion, the famous movie star shunned fans and reporters.

20. Outcasts To be outcast is to be driven out or rejected
In this story, the outcasts are forced out of town with the threat of death if they return

21. Outcast
John Oakhurst
-gambler

22. Outcast
Uncle Billy
-suspected sluice-robber
-drunkard

23. Outcast
The Duchess
-younger escort

24. Outcast
Mother Shipton
-older escort

25. Innocent
Tom Simson

26. Innocent
Piney Woods

27. QUESTIONS to Discuss Why might a person be outcast from society?
Can a person be an outcast without physically going somewhere else? Explain.

28. Trailer