Regionalism and Local Color
Realism is the depiction of life as most people live and know it. Regionalism is a characteristic of Realism that portrays the customs, habits and characteristics of a particular place. Part of regionalism is local color. Local color is defined as a particular example of regional characteristics. Local color can be shown in a particular dialect, dress, and occupations. In Realism life is depicted as most people live and know it. Local color helps the true appearance of a place seem more believable to a reader. To better understand local color one must first understand the three most important traits of it; dialect, dress, and occupations. Three good examples of local color and regionalism are found in "The Outcasts of Poker Flat", The Red Badge Of Courage, And in "A Mystery of Heroism". "The Outcasts of Poker Flat" is a short story by Bret Harte about a western town that has banished a group of "improper persons". Local color is first shown in the beginning of the story when Harte talks about the people to be banished. Harte described the group using familiar western types. '"The Duchess"; another who had won the title of "Mother Shipton"; and "Uncle Billy"
The Red Badge of Courage is a novel by Stephen Crane that tells the life of a young soldier during the Civil War. Crane uses regionalism to describe the setting of the battlefield a number of times throughout the novel. In the first chapter Crane describes the battleground as the sun is rising. "A river amber-tinted in the shadow of its banks, purled at the army's feet" (443). The Regionalism shown describes the battlefield and gives one a good picture of what it looks like. Like Harte, Crane also uses dialect to exhibit local color. When talking about the war Crane gives dialogue to Jim that shows local color. "Of course there is. You jest wait 'til tomorrow, and you'll see one of biggest battles ever was. You jest wait" (446). Crane uses slang words to help show and give one a better picture of how life is. The Red Badge of Courage portrays many aspects of Regionalism and Local Color in the setting and the characters dialogue. a suspected sluice robber and confirmed drunkard" (395). The use of local is shown as Harte describes the persons occupations and appearance. Bret Harte also uses local color in the dialogue that he gives to his characters. As Mr
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Approximate Word count = 794
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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