Beyond Realism: Western Stars
In "A Retrieved Reformation," O. Henry starts the story in the middle of an interaction that provides key information about the main character and the setting. Henry begins "A Call Loan" by discussing in general terms the success of cattle barons and their fortunes, and then he introduces his main character.
How does the exposition in "A Retrieved Reformation" differ from that in "A Call Loan"?
they portrayed people and situations that were unique to the western part of the country
How were O. Henry's short stories, such as "A Retrieved Reformation," examples of Regionalism and the classic Western?
courageous and independent
What are the most common features of Western characters?
His job as a ranch hand, his time in jail, and his long stay in New York greatly influenced his writings.
What aspects of O. Henry's life do you think might show up in his writings?
The main conflict is with the weather, which was made harder to bear by a lack of food and inadequate shelter.
What conflict do the people in this story face?
Jimmy Valentine, a safe cracker, is being released from prison, where, even though he is guilty, he did not serve his full term.
What do you learn about the setting and the main character in this story's exposition?
they tend to include strong, courageous main characters
What is one characteristic of Westerns?
the frontier
What is the setting of most Westerns?
Long Bill is a former cowboy who is now a landowner and bank president. O. Henry describes him as someone who has "luck and thrift," "a cool head," and success at all he does. These characteristics portray him as independent, courageous, and exceptional—possibly even heroic.
What makes Long Bill Longley a good example of a Western character?
"gambler, stepped into the main street of Poker Flat," "in a settlement unused to Sabbath influences," "two men who were then hanging from the boughs of a sycamore in the gulch," and "committee had urged hanging him as a possible example"
What quotes from the excerpt give you clues about the location of Poker Flat?
the challenge of maintaining law and order out West
What topic common to Westerns is found in this excerpt?
assiduously
carefully
chaparral
group of bushes or trees
dyspectic
having indigestion
Bret Harte
he was the first popular writer of stories and poems about the West. he wrote authentic tales of the west and were well received by the public. he inspired and influenced other writers such as mark twain and O. Henry
they were noble and good in spite of their past
how did bret Harte portray the characters in his westerns?
Western
located in or toward the west
clemency
mercy
compulsory
necessary
collateral
security for a loan
reformation
the act of being changed
O. Henry
was an extremely prolific short story writer. Readers today tend to remember O. Henry's stories for their surprise endings, but he was known as a writer of particularly entertaining Westerns during his lifetime
it moved into other mediums and eventually faded in popularity
what eventually happened to the western genre?
action and adventure stories
what is the style of most Westerns?
the use of coincidence to resolve the conflict
what plot element is most typical of an O. Henry story?
conflicts between people
what type of conflicts are most common in the Western genre?
between 1850 and 1900
when in america's history are most westerns set?
keeping order in a chaotic environment
Which is a common topic in Westerns?
"Mr. Oakhurst did not drink," "The thought of deserting his weaker and more pitiable companions never perhaps occurred to him," "He then handed him his money back, pushed him gently from the room"
Which phrases from the story reveal character traits that Mr. Oakhurst shares with most other Western "heroes"?
Regionalism focused on the realistic details of everyday topics and people, and it also captured the flavor of how people spoke through dialect. By emphasizing these things, writers of Regionalism were able to present—and preserve—a fairly accurate picture of the West.
Why was Regionalism ideal for preserving the details of the frontier?
quirt
a whip with a barb on the end