Cheyne D. Schuchardt Mr. Derico September 13‚ 2012 College English 2 The Outcasts of Poker Flat and the Metaphor of Texas Hold ‘em The story of “The Outcasts of Poker Flat” by Bret Harte is a beautifully written narrative about a character named Mr. John Oakhurst. During the story‚ Oakhurst is placed through a variety of situations that eventually lead to his subtle death. The story of “The Outcasts of Poker Flat” follows as a parallel to the game of Texas Hold ‘em in a very unique way.
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The Outcasts of Poker Flat is a short story filled with connotations of redemption and imbued with an incredible kind of misconception that only the most arrogantly self-righteous could conceive. Its primary purpose is to act as a cautionary tale about a seemingly respectable judgment that unjustly condemns four people to their untimely ends. Harte’s story is set in an 1800’s settlement brimming with discord and mistrust. After a series of very unfortunate events the townspeople decide to exile the
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“The Outcasts of Poker Flat” by Bret Harte is a old school western man who is an avid gambler. Morgan in “The Pupil” by Henry James is a young boy who has a very kind but weak heart. Editha in “Editha” by William Dean Howells is a woman who only sees the romantic sides of life and not the whole picture. All three characters have very different obstacles to conquer
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Outcasts of Poker Flat At least once in our lives we have all felt like outcasts to a group of people‚ feeling different or rejected by society. The characters in Poker Flat felt this same exact way‚ but for them it was a case of life or death for being an outcast. Characters in the story “The Outcasts of Poker Flat” symbolize different types of people in society. Characters in the story represent different types of people in the society of the time period. Some of the characteristics are caregivers
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Morality Among the "Outcasts of Poker Flat" As Mr. John Oakhurst‚ gambler‚ stepped into the main street of Poker Flat on the morning of the twenty third of November‚ 1850‚ he was conscious of a change in its moral atmosphere from the preceding night. Two or three men‚ conversing earnestly together‚ ceased as he approached‚ and exchanged significant glances. There was a Sabbath lull in the air‚ which‚ in a settlement unused to Sabbath influences‚ looked ominous. Mr. Oakhurst’s calm handsome face
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Build a Fire in Poker Flat In both the stories “The Outcast of Poker Flat” by Bret Harte and “To Build a Fire” by Jack London‚ the role of regionalism is very prominent and it plays a very vital role in both stories. If the region of either of these stories were to be changed‚ then neither of them would work the way the writers intended them to. Although both “The Outcast of Poker Flat” and “To Build a Fire” capture the essence of their regions‚ one does it better than the other. The role of
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“The Outcasts of Poker Flat” is an unfortunate tale involving the death of several exiled outcasts by many different means. The actions of two of the people in the group ultimately led to the death of two young girls‚ known as Piney and “The Duchess‚” by starvation. “Mother Shipton” another female in the group‚ also died by starvation after giving her food to the younger girls so that they may survive. Starvation was the cause of three of the four deaths in the story‚ as the fourth death was the
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“The Outcasts of Poker Flat” In the beginning of the story titled “The Outcasts of Poker Flat”‚ readers find that the main character‚ John Oakhurst is not as simplistic as he seems‚ he is rather a complex individual that ultimately reflects realism because of how readers can relate to his life. As we go through all of the unfortunate events Mr. Oakhurst endures‚ we reveal his true feelings and thoughts. He is a complicated individual who feels he is never good enough for anyone. He lets his gambling
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original and "keep it real" to survive the physical and mental fatigue life throws at them and also that everything will always be real and we must be in touch with our minds to harvest the realness. Bret Harte tells of a story where a group is outcast into the world to fend for themselves during the winter season. After they have been exiled and are outside the city
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can control how or if the die; even if inevitable? This unique story by Francis Bret Harte "The Outcast of Poker Flat"‚ has a grey western setting. Harte explores the mind of a gambler who is exiled from a warped town. Two literary devices regionalism and naturalism content is evident throughout‚ giving the story a feeling of hopelessness of survival. The regionalism in "The Outcast of Poker Flat" separates the characters from the town in such a way that is ironic. "I reckon they are after somebody"
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