midterm Flashcards
Feminist author who wrote “The Yellow Wallpaper.” She had tried “the rest cure” for her own depression and found it ineffective, just as in the story.
Charlotte Gilman
Called “The New England Poet,” he often wrote symbolic poems set in rural scenes—like “The Road Less Traveled. “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” and “After Apple-Picking”
Robert Frost
Known for his “psychological realism,” this author spent a great deal of time in Europe and set many of his stories there. Also wrote mostly about upper classes. Wrote “Daisy Miller” and the novels The American and Portrait of a Lady
Henry James
Author of “Up from Slavery.” He was head of the Tuskegee Institute.
Booker T. Washington
Native American author of “School Days of an Indian Girl.” She went to school in Indiana
Zitkala Sa
Probably the best-known and most important writer in American history. Grew up along the Mississippi River and set some of his most famous stories there, like Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Mark Twain
Feminist author of “A New England Nun”
Mary Wilkins Freeman
Prolific naturalist author who died at age 41 but produced fifty books, the most famous of which are Call of the Wild, White Fang, and The Sea Wolf. Often incorporated Darwin’s theories in his work, as in the short story “Law of Life”
Jack London
A veteran of some of the bloodiest Civil War battles, this realist author often wrote graphic stories based on his war experience, like “Chickamauga” and “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.” Also wrote the witty, sardonic Devil’s Dictionary
Ambrose Bierce
Author of “The Souls of Black Folk.” A scholar, he was a Harvard graduate.
W.E.B. DuBois
Modernist author of “Fog” and “Chicago.” In the latter, he calls Chicago by the memorable nickname “City of the Big Shoulders”
Carl Sandburg
Author of acclaimed novel My Antonia and the short story “A Wagner Matinee.” Grew up in Nebraska, moved to big cities in East, but then wrote many stories set back in Nebraska
Willa Cather
Often called a “minimalist” (a label he rejected), this writer is considered by many to be the most important short story writer of the latter half of the 20th century. Often wrote about alcoholics, the unemployed, and failed relationships. Finally kicked the alcohol habit himself late in his life, and then produced some of his best work, like “Cathedral.”
Raymond Carver
A former engineer, this writer transitioned into a contemporary short story master. Often writes satirical and surreal stories that skewer American society.
George Saunders
A formidable realist writer himself, he was more influential as an editor of The Atlantic Monthly and Harper’s Magazine. He was an early supporter of Mark Twain and Henry James, as well as realism in general.
William Dean Howells
