1. Local Color
1.1. Local Color is a piece of fiction that focuses on characteristics of a specific region
1.1.1. Local color became prominent in american literature following the Civil War, and became a popular form of writing for almost three decards
1.2. Local Color is present in "The Awakening" through the characterization of the Creole society, as well as the setting. The inclusion of the New Orleans hot house, which were typical of the society. Local Color is also present through occasional French speaking in the book, a language prevalent in New Orleans at the time.
1.3. Examples of Local Color can be found in many novels
1.3.1. "The Luck of Roaring Camp", an 1868 novel by Bret Harte which discusses the life of miners during the California Gold Rush
1.3.1.1. The novel also includes information on Western lifestyle, and details that were specific to the region
1.3.1.2. The novel employs the miners local dialects in the book
1.3.2. "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe
1.3.2.1. Discusses the horrific details of lives for enslaved African Americans in the South
1.3.2.2. "Perhaps the mildest form of the system of slavery is to be seen in the State of Kentucky. The general prevalence of agricultural pursuits of a quiet and gradual nature, not requiring those periodic seasons of hurry and pressure that are called for in the business of more southern districts, makes the task of the negro a more healthful and reasonable one..."
2. Naturalism
2.1. Naturalism is a type of literature that attempts to apply the principles of objectivity and detachment to the study of human beings
2.2. "The Experimental Novel" by Zola in 1880, uses this method
2.3. Naturalism is present in "The Awakening": "Turning,s he thrust her face, steaming and wet, into the bend of her arm, and she went on crying there, not caring any longer to dry her face, her eyes, her arms. She could not have told why she was crying."
3. Romanticism
3.1. (Garrett)
3.2. Romanticism finds its roots in literature in criticism of the past.
3.3. Many works of Romanticism in literature place their emphasis on women and children.
3.4. Romanticism places finds its themes in sense of self, power of individuals, and the idea of transcendentalism.
3.5. A good example of a Romanticism literary work is The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
4. Realism
4.1. A technique that denotes a particular kind of subject matter
4.2. John W. DeForest's "Miss Ravenal's Conversion from Secession to Loyalty" uses realism
4.3. Mark Twain was a frequent user of Realism in his novels
4.4. Realism is evident in "The Awakening" through Kate Chopin's descriptions of the Creole society, as well as the way of life in Louisiana
4.4.1. The author also introduces us to the high class lifestyle people had in New Orleans
4.4.2. The use of French language also demonstrates Realism