Rip Van Winkle
Author: Washington IrvingCharacters: Rip & Dame Major Themes: sense of realism for the story although it was in the category of romanticism - fish out of water.
Young Goodman Brown
Author: Nathaniel HawthorneCharacters: Young Goodman Brown & Faith Themes: sin, loss of innocence
The Indian Wife
Author: Lydia Marie Child Characters: Tahmiroo and Florimond de Rancé Themes: the cruelty of the white man against the Indians; the widespread violence against them.
The Fall of The House of Usher
Author: Edgar Allan PoeCharacters: Roderick, Madeline and Narrator Themes: The Gothic, the major descriptions of the story are Gothic, part of the descriptions of romanticism
The Cask of Amontillado
Author: Edgar Allan Poe Characters: Fortunato and Montressor Themes: hatred, manipulation, the Gothic, the unknown
Bartleby the Scrivener
Author: Herman Melville Characters: Bartleby, narrator, Turkey, Nippers & Ginger Nut Themes: queer reading of the story; the desire between people in the workplace and the relationships that are build between people in the workplace
Life in the Iron Mills
Author: Rebecca Harding Davis Characters: Deborah & Hugh Themes: The story revolves around a character that is between realism and romanticism; they are mundane characters but they have the sense of the gothic that is present*This story is in between realism & romanticism!!!
The Revolt of Mother
Author: Freeman Characters: Sarah Penn, Adoniram Penn, Nanny & George Themes: women's role in a patriarchal society and the challenging of that role
The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County
Author: Mark Twain Characters: Smiley, narrator & Wheeler Themes: cleverness and lies that are brought on by deceit
The Outcasts of Poker Flat
Author: Bret Harte Characters: Oakhurst, The Duchess, Mother Shipton, Uncle Billy, The Innocent & Piney Themes: Not everyone is what they seem to be on the outside; just because someone has to do something to make a living doesn't make them a bad person
The Luck of Roaring Camp
Author: Bret Harte Characters: Oakhurst, Tommy Luck, Stumpy & Kentucky Themes: Luck comes into town almost as a Christ-like figure because he brings change to the town but goes out with a flood. also utopian male society; no utopias work
The Return of a Private
Author: Richard GarlandCharacters: Private Edward Smith, Emma Smith, Mother Gray, Saunders & Jim Themes: Life after the war is still hard; although they were fighting for their lives, when they are back at home they are fighting to feed their families and life is never easy
The Yellow Wall Paper
Author: Charlotte Perkins GilmanCharacters: John, Jenny & The narrator Themes: the rest cure doesn't work for woman; woman think they must listen to men to be cured of their mental illness but in this case it just makes it worse
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
Author: Ambrose Pierce Characters: Peyton Farquhar, his wife & other generals Themes: The importance of time within people's lives and how they look upon time differently. Important because its after the Civil War
The Real Thing
Author: Henry James Characters: The Monarchs & the narrator Themes: appearance vs.
reality because the Monarchs look like something they used to be but really aren't anymore
Desiree's Baby
Author: Kate Chopin Characters: Desiree, Armand & Madame Valmonde Themes: Race; Armand kicks Desiree out because of her apparent "race"; power over the inferior race
The Goophered Grapevine
Author: Charles ChesnuttCharacters: John, Julius & Annie & HenryThemes: Racism and slavery because of the mistreatment of blacks. Henry is sold back and forth just like property or like the grapes
Po' Sandy
Author: Charles Chesnutt Characters: John, Julius, Annie, Sandy & Tenie & Aunt NancyThemes: love and conjure because Tenie turns Sandy into a tree; the masters were going to separate Sandy from Tenie - still mistreatment of slaves
Sis' Becky's Pickaninny
Author: Charles Chesnutt Characters: John, Julius, Annie, Becky, Aunt Nancy & Mose Themes: selling of slavery and the horrification behind the selling of the slaves; luck isn't just from a talisman but can come from anywhere.
Dave's Neckliss
Author: Charles Chesnutt Characters: John, Julius, Annie, Dave & Dilsey Themes: the mistreatment of slaves; Dave had to wear a ham around his neck but when he worked more slowly the master took it off but he felt lost without it. Supposedly a reference to the inferiors as the sons of Ham who made fun of his father for being drunk
The Dumb Witness
Author: Charles Chesnutt Characters: Roger Murchison, Malcolm Murchison & Viney Themes: After Viney was hit in the mouth for saying things she wasn't supposed to, she listened to her master and didn't talk. Ironic because when he wanted/needed her to talk was after he ruined her mouth
Romanticism
The Gothic, stylised story, exaggeration, less fictional and more historical framework, never usually specific about place/time period
Realism/Naturalism
strong plot line, ordinary characters that suffer from real life problems, relatable characters, gender issues & race issues, local colorism, nature is not symbolic
Regionalism
a story is set and focused on one specific region (the South)
The American Short Story Cycle
The Conjure Woman - the same characters reappear in different stories but in a set and not necessarily a continuation, they develop generic themes throughout
