The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County

Nathaniel Burrow

Mr. Davis

English 202

04/07/2013

"The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" Analytical Paper 1

Thesis: Mark Twain's, "The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" defines realism the literary text exemplifies realism; use one of the texts from the realism/naturalism contextual cluster to define it - see assignment sheet and announcements from weeks 2 & 3 for details as an interpretation of how life presently exists; this method of writing can be seen through the names of the characters, the mannerisms of the characters, and the life of John Smiley.

I. The names of the characters exemplify realism because they are the names of real people during that time period

A. Andrew Jackson is the name of a United States' president. (p. 103)

1. "...Andrew Jackson - which was the name of the pup..."

B. Daniel Webster is the name of a United States' senator. (p. 103)

1. "...Dan'l Webster was the name of the frog..."

II. The mannerisms of the nonfiction characters exhibit real people's mannerisms during that time period.

A. The fellow who cheats Jim Smiley could represent the selfish way of thinking during that time period. (p. 104)

B. All characters in the story talk and act as real people do during the time period. (p. 101-104)

1. The narrator's description of Simon Wheeler's mannerisms - "He never smiled, he never frowned, he never changed his fvoice from the gentle-flowing key to which he tuned his initial sentence, he never betrayed the lightest suspicion of enthusiasm..." (p. 101)

III. The aspect of realism can be seen through the life of John Smiley.

A. Smiley's sole purpose in life is to make money for himself. (p. 102)

1. He once bet on a sick women's health.

a. "Well, I'll resk two-and-a-half she don't anyway." (p. 102)

B. He develops a new, independent method of making money, which is representative of the American dream. (p. 102)

Nathaniel Burrow

Mr. Davis

English 202

04/07/2013

"The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" Analytical Paper 1

Mark Twain is one of the most common examples of a realist writer, because he is notorious for authoring different works that explore various aspects of human nature. Specifically, his short story, "The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" demonstrates Twain's unique form of realistic writing by cleverly displaying the verisimilitude of the western world. Furthermore, this story defines realism as an interpretation of how life exists and existed; this method of writing can be seen through the names of the characters, the mannerisms of the characters, and the life of John Smiley.

Before suggesting the presence of realism located within the short story, "The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," the term "realism" must first be adequately defined. In "the Norton Anthology of American Literature" Nina Baym defines realism as being a popular literary movement from the 1830's until