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Iron In Bret Harte's 'Outcasts Of Poker Flat'

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If America, as a whole, took a survey about what the population thought was the most well written literary genre of our history, what would they choose? Would America choose science fiction, fantasy, nonfiction, or perhaps a romance as the best novel type of novel. Most likely, the book that would win the day is books about local color, a realistic look at other people’s daily walk in life. Ever since Mark Twain came on the scene, Americans love the look, the dialogue, and thought process of people in another walk of life. Bret Harte, a man of all trades, who moved to California to work in a mine, published a short story in 1869 called “Outcasts of Poker Flat.” This short story involves the local criminal color of 19th century California, while also showing the consequences of human nature. Although this story involves the local color that everyone loves, it contains a grim humor developed by mounting tension and irony. …show more content…

Harte sets up his short stories humor in a unique way, by introducing information, and then making the information ironical, using the three types of irony, while increasing the tension concerning the fate of the characters. First, the reader is introduced to one Mr. John Oakhurst, a gambler, who resides in a city named Poker Flat. However, Mr. Oakhurst notices that the people of Poker Flat are getting frustrated with the less than respectable citizens due to some recent robberies and a possible murder. So, in response to the crimes, Poker Flat’s residents banish the known criminals in town, including John Oakhurst. Verbal Irony is the first type that is used, and it is humorous that a town named Poker Flat would banish, with the threat of death should he return, the town’s best Poker

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