The Norton Anthology of American Literature notes

Question: What argument is James making in “The Art of Fiction”? How does it contrast with what we have seen from Howells, Norris, and Crane?

Question: What does Howells assert that fiction should accomplish? That is, what does he think fiction is for? Do you see him accomplishing that in “Editha”?

Question: To what extent does Mark Twain feel like a contemporary voice? That is, does his humor sound like humor you might hear from someone writing or even doing stand-up today? If so, in what specific ways? If not, how is he different?

Question: How could things have been different for Maggie? (Think big, not just within the story but within the larger context as you understand it.)

Question: Do you see Norris arguing with Howells, or do you see him more fundamentally agreeing with him even as he offers a critique?

Question: To what extent does this depiction of a working-class family feel “realistic”?

Question: To what extent does Mark Twain feel like a contemporary voice? That is, does his humor sound like humor you might hear from someone writing or even doing stand-up today? If so, in what specific ways? If not, how is he different?

Question: How could things have been different for Maggie? (Think big, not just within the story but within the larger context as you understand it.)

Question: What does Howells assert that fiction should accomplish? That is, what does he think fiction is for? Do you see him accomplishing that in “Editha”?

Question: Do you see Norris arguing with Howells, or do you see him more fundamentally agreeing with him even as he offers a critique?

Question: What argument is James making in “The Art of Fiction”? How does it contrast with what we have seen from Howells, Norris, and Crane?

Question: To what extent does this depiction of a working-class family feel “realistic”?