NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
Although Benjamin Franklin Norris, or Frank Norris as his gravestone reads, died at the young age of 32. He still managed to be recognized to be one of the best naturalistic writers at the turn of the century. Norris had a short life, but it was packed full of things that had a huge impact on him. He witnessed different wars, and the industrial revolution firsthand. As a naturalistic writer, your experiences are what drive your work. Norris' writing was very creative as a result of his experiences.
You also could tell about his life by looking at the themes in Norris' fiction books. A great example of this, is the impact of the industrialization on what he thought of as peaceful agricultural communities. The chaos of the people who lived in those communities was an expression of Norris' discomfort of what was going on in his life at that time. These themes are best showcased in his novel, The Octopus. The tentacles of the octopus are a metaphor for the twisting steel tracks of the railroad "choking" the countryside.
Norris got the idea for The Octopus from the Santa Carla valley where he stayed on extended vacation. It was that valley where he became aware of the struggle between the farmers who grew wheat and the railroad monopoly that controlled the transportation of it. In The Octopus, the war is fought out in the open with violence and also behind closed doors with bribes. With this novel, Norris single handedly created a social drama in American literature.
This was done through his interpretation of the "ruthless" era. The Octopus is hailed by many critics as Norris' "most impressive work" or as Warren French said, "A magnificent, imaginative achievement, one of the few American novels to bring a significant episode from our history to life. " According to Norris, realism is the literature of the normal and the representative. "The smaller details of everyday life, things that are likely to happen between lunch and supper. " He says naturalism brings together the best from realism, romanticism, while displaying detailed accuracy and philosophical depth. "It is a school by itself, unique, somber, powerful beyond words. Its Naturalism" - Norris
Free research essays on topics related to: octopus, realism, railroad, naturalism, norris
Research essay sample on Norris Octopus Life
