This term paper is concerned with two branches of realism reflected in Stephen Crane’s short story “The Blue Hotel”, published in 1899.
This short story deals with a short stay of three men at Scully’s Palace Hotel in Nebraska. One of them, called “the Swede” behaves strangely by being convinced that everyone is trying to kill him.
Throughout the story, Crane employs several elements of Realism, more preci-sely Regionalism and Naturalism. These two aspects of Realism are characterised by the features and the behaviour of the characters.
The aim of this term paper is to give an explanation of the major realistic elements in “The Blue Hotel” and to analyze in how far Crane manages to make use of them.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- The central realistic elements
- Regionalism
- Naturalism
- The central realistic elements in "The Blue Hotel"
- Concerning the elements of Regionalism
- Concerning the elements of Naturalism
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This term paper examines the two branches of realism reflected in Stephen Crane's short story "The Blue Hotel," published in 1899. The paper aims to analyze the story's use of Regionalism and Naturalism, focusing on how these elements contribute to the characterization and overall narrative.
- Regionalism as a reflection of America's division into different regions following the Civil War
- The influence of the transcontinental railroad on the development of Regionalism
- Naturalism as a radical movement rooted in Darwin's theory of evolution
- The connection between Regionalism and Naturalism through the concept of race and cultural differences
- The portrayal of characters as products of their biological and societal environments
Chapter Summaries
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the topic of the term paper, focusing on the two branches of realism present in Stephen Crane's "The Blue Hotel." It discusses the historical context of the story and the significance of Regionalism and Naturalism in the narrative.
- The central realistic elements: This chapter provides a general overview of Regionalism and Naturalism, exploring their origins, key characteristics, and connections. It discusses the impact of the Civil War, the transcontinental railroad, and Darwin's theory on these literary movements.
- The central realistic elements in "The Blue Hotel": This chapter analyzes the presence of Regionalism and Naturalism in the short story. It examines the characterization of the main characters, their behavior, and their interactions within the context of the story's setting.
Keywords
The key themes and concepts explored in this term paper include Regionalism, Naturalism, Realism, "The Blue Hotel," Stephen Crane, the Civil War, the transcontinental railroad, Darwin's theory of evolution, characterization, setting, and the portrayal of social and cultural differences.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does "The Blue Hotel" reflect the period of Realism?
Stephen Crane employs elements of both Regionalism and Naturalism, portraying characters as products of their biological and societal environments within a specific geographical setting.
What is the role of Naturalism in the story?
Naturalism, influenced by Darwin's theory of evolution, is shown through the characters' behavior, which is often driven by instinct and determined by forces beyond their control.
What defines Regionalism in Crane's work?
Regionalism is reflected in the detailed depiction of the Nebraska setting and the cultural differences highlighted by the arrival of the transcontinental railroad.
Who is "the Swede" and why is his behavior significant?
The Swede is a character who arrives at the hotel convinced that he will be killed. His paranoia and the subsequent reactions of the other men drive the narrative's exploration of social and biological determinism.
How did the Civil War influence the literary movements discussed?
The Civil War emphasized the division of America into different regions, which laid the historical groundwork for Regionalism as authors sought to capture the distinct identities of these areas.
- Citation du texte
- Nathalie Fiore (Auteur), 2012, Stephen Crane's Short Story „The Blue Hotel“ as a Text of the Realistic Period, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/318284
