Though you may never before have heard his name, you are probably familiar with many of the character stereotypes that Bret Harte (1836-1902) invented and used to fill the pages of his stories: the shady miner trying to strike it rich, the tough cowboy, and the saloon girl with a pure heart. Harte's fiction is responsible for creating the image of the West that has lived on in Western films, cowboy novels, and even in the American imagination today. Harte himself was born in New York, but in his late teens he moved to California during the Gold Rush and worked there for many years as a miner, stagecoach guard, teacher, and finally journalist. His experiences provided the basic outline for his settings, plots, and characters, but he chose sentimental and romantic details rather than focusing on the harsh truths that realists promoted. His writing was hugely successful and popular across the country, making him one of the most highly paid American writers of the time.
Reading Assignment: "The Outcasts of Poker Flat"
It is now time to read Bret Harte's short story, "The Outcasts of Poker Flat." This story is set in the Wild West and features several of the stereotypical characters Harte made famous.
As you read, look for these characters and also make note of setting descriptions and the use of dialect. You will use these observations on a future assignment. Additionally, use the reading guide linked below to help self-assess your understanding of the text.