This week you will work with a text set: that is, you have been given a few common readings, & now you will have a choice of which paired texts to read & discuss. FIRST: Make sure that you have read the selections listed on the to-do list before you begin. THEN: Preview the introductions to the authors Bret Harte (306), Ambrose Bierce (326), and Kate Chopin (441); preview their short stories also. Choose one story to read more closely. Bret Harte: ″The Luck of Roaring Camp″ (306) Ambrose Bierce: ″An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge″ (326) OR ″Chickamauga″ (333) Kate Chopin: ″Desiree′s Baby″ (441); ″The Story of an Hour″ (446); At the ′Cadian Ball″ (448); OR ″The Storm″ (455) WRITE: What connections see the material, physical, political, social, and/or economic contexts of the era with that of the story you′ve chosen? What elements of realism, regionalism, and/or naturalism do you see emerging/appearing in the story? How do plot, characterization, and/or setting add to those elements.
