Preview

Muckraker

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
252 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Muckraker
DJ Geary
6/10/13
English11b
5.02
1. Define the term "Muckraker." Be sure to include the name of the person who created it.
Muckrackers were American novelists and journalists in the first decade of the twentieth century that exposed corruptions in big business and government. 2. Naturalism was a literary movement of the late 19th century that was an extension of Realism. What was the main focus of the Naturalistic writer?
Naturalists wrote about the fringes of society, the criminal, the fallen, and the down-and-out. 3. American Realists believed that humanity's freedom of choice was limited by the power of outside forces. How would this view differ from the perspective of the Romantic writer (think of someone like Emerson)?
Romanticism stressed the value of expressing human abilities that were common to all from birth rather than from training. 4. In your opinion, based on what you have read, why would post Civil War, newly industrialized America be attracted to the Realistic movement?
I believe that the newly industrialized America would be attracted to the Realistic movement because the country was changing so greatly and so quickly that people were being pulled along whether they wanted to or not. They would feal connected with realists because they wrote about the struggles of everyday life. 5. What is meant by the term "local color"?
Local color or regional literature is fiction and poetry that focuses on the characters, dialect, customs, topography, and other features particular to a specific

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    5.04 Englishiii

    • 289 Words
    • 2 Pages

    1. Upton Sinclair was called a "muckraker." How did Sinclair "muckrake" for social reform? He wrote about how the process for making meat such as hot dogs and bologna was and let people know about it which led to a reform for the meat-packing industry.…

    • 289 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    A muckraker is someone who is out to publicly expose misconduct politically or economically. One person who is an example of this is Lincoln Steffens. He was an American journalist, lecturer, and political philosopher. Steffens discovered abundant evidence of the corruption of politicians by businessmen seeking special privileges. In 1901 after becoming managing editor of McClure’s Magazine, he then began to publish the informing articles later to be thought of as The Shame of the Cities.…

    • 209 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    7. To what extent did extreme abolitionists do more harm than good, with regard to the slavery problem?…

    • 2282 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The late 18th century to the early 19th century was a time of social and economical turmoil as well as prosperity and civil righteousness for different groups of people. Many changes have occurred throughout that time period including advancements in industry, social and religious enlightenment, and especially new forms of literature. Many famous authors during that time period wanted to preserve their cultures and to describe what was going on during those times. This lead to the form of literature called Naturalism and Regionalism, two very popular forms of american literature. The term Naturalism was a literary action that used realistic and detailed suggestions that social conditions, heredity and environment had to do with shaping human…

    • 141 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Derivation Of Muckrakers

    • 858 Words
    • 4 Pages

    There is a prominent saying that has stood the test of time, and that is “the pen is mightier than the sword”, and for journalists at the beginning of the 20th century it was more than just a saying; it was a way of life. Today, I will be exploring the derivation of the muckrakers; such a funny word isn’t it? If you break the word up it basically gives you the explanation, you see, muck means dirt and raker means to dig up. So fundamentally a muckraker is someone who likes to dig up dirt, but not just anybody or any dirt either. Muckraker is a term used to describe an investigative journalist who sought to expose corruption or scandal, particularly in politics or public affairs during the Progressive Era; and this type of journalism actually…

    • 858 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    A muckraker is someone who exposes the unpleasant truths that society likes to pretend don’t exist. Mark Twain was a muckraker. In Twain’s book, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, all the grime, racism, and vulgarity of the South in the mid 1800s, is depicted accurately and vividly. The story is set in St. Petersburg, Missouri, and follows a 13 year old boy, Huck, as he struggles against society internally to hold on to who he truly is, and externally to sneak a family slave up the Mississippi River and to the North. In this great American novel, Mark Twain utilizes his trademark sense of humor, and clever satirical writing style to pull readers in and show them the world from his realist point of view.…

    • 288 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Without some of the most famous muckrakers of the progressive era pushing the envelope of investigative journalism, legislation within the workplace would be dangerously underutilized. Fiscally committed and morally selective industrialists thought very little of the welfare of their workers, unless it happened to interfere with the progression of monopolies. Muckrakers of the early twentieth century sought to impact the common man, which is the heart of all production. The passion and sincerity of their writings spoke to society on both an intellectual, and emotional level. Without the support of customers, an industry is without money, or power.…

    • 797 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Corruption is one word, representing many problems throughout society. In some instances, the general public is aware of the corruption and could make an effort to fight it, but in other circumstances, the public is not, and the corruption could be left untouched. In the Progressive era, there were many instances where the corruption was not being handled. Journalists who tried to discover this corruption were considered muckrakers. Their reports helped convince Americans to act on the problems in America. This tactic in journalism did not end with the Progressive Era as it is still seen today. Muckraking journalism made an impact in the Progressive era, is effective in today’s world, and is still necessary for the future.…

    • 1172 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Best Essays

    Writers of realist fiction attempt to, as accurately as possible, show how things really are. They also seek to bring to light the conditions in society that have previously gone ignored. As compared with the works of romantic literature, characters in realist works tend to be dynamic rather than static. Also, "[s]ettings are more ordinary, plots are less important, and themes are less obvious" (World Book 16: 173). Realist writings focus more on developing their characters and less on the surroundings and…

    • 2216 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    Discuss some of the ways in which Romantic artists, musicians and writers (poets too) responded to the political and socioeconomic conditions in the period from 1800 to 1850. Document your response with specific examples from discussions of at least two of the three disciplines: visual arts, music and literature.…

    • 512 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Gambler

    • 1415 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Local word color is a writing tool used to help the reader understand certain features of where the story is taking place at. An example of this would be, “I found Simon Wheeler dozing comfortably by the bar-room stove of the dilapidated tavern in the decayed mining camp of Angel’s, and I noticed that he was fat and bald-headed, and had an expression of winning gentleness and simplicity upon his tranquil contenance”(10-13). Mark Twain uses word color here by describing Simon Wheeler’s characteristics and he was sitting drunk at Angel’s tavern.…

    • 1415 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    individualism. Romanticism is means return to nature. Another means we can say ; everything take place around nature. In that period supernatural things is our imagination. Nature is the most significant subject in this period. Writers inspire from the nature. In that period William Wordsworth one of the most important poet in romantic period. ‘Romanticism (also the Romantic era or the Romantic period) was an artistic, literary, and intellectual movement that originated in Europe toward the end of the 18th century and in most areas was at its peak in the approximate period from 1800 to 1850. Partly a reaction to the Industrial Revolution, it was also a revolt against the aristocratic social and political norms of the Age of Enlightenmentand a reaction against the scientific rationalization of nature. It was embodied most strongly in the visual arts, music, and literature, but had a major impact on historiography, education and the natural sciences. Its effect on politics was considerable and complex; while for much of the peak Romantic period it was associated with liberalism and radicalism, in the long term its effect on the growth of nationalism was probably more significant.’ In that paragraph it is told about romanticism. When we read that paragraph we will understand how the improve and which area the improve romanticism.…

    • 677 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    The Enlightenment focused on the human mind and then later the absolute mind which showed where reality came from, while the Romantics focused on the extreme individualism (p. 34 & 75). The Romantics contradicted the idea brought on by the Enlightenment that “individuals were not primarily rational, but were motivated by emotions and feelings and understood things intuitively…” (p. 83). This idea was the main contradiction between the enlightenment rationalism and romantic subjectivism.…

    • 1187 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Realism and Local Color

    • 293 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Writers use local color to bring out the character and culture of a certain area. Mark Twain and many other writers use local color to convey to the reader what it is actually like in the specific region they are writing…

    • 293 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Romaticism

    • 4963 Words
    • 20 Pages

    The age of Romanticism is considered to be the most remarkable age in the history of English Literature within fifty years after the death of Dr. Johnson. English poetry was once again magnificently driven by the brilliant outburst of the imaginative genius. The rise of Romanticism needs to be seen in the context of the changes that marked the historical and philosophical aspects of the English social life. It must be noted that the period between 1776 and 1832 was one of the remarkable progress and national achievements for England. Industrial development was growing day by day. In this age of industrial progress the Romantics rise with a view to making a balance between dehumanized men and women.…

    • 4963 Words
    • 20 Pages
    Good Essays