In the octopus, norris would depict huntington as the pitiless railroad boss, shelgrim, a man to whom the laws of supply and demand were a force of nature that swept aside everything in their path. Americans are taught that railroad magnates leland stanford and collis huntington built california their names adorn the states most prominent universities, libraries, and parks but thanks to fiction. The railroad company, controlling the local newspaper, state legislature and the land prove to be a tough force for the local wheat growers to fight against. In the octopus, what makes presley uniquely american. The octopus a story of california by frank norris and publisher penguin classics. His 1901 novel the octopus dramatized the conflicts between california ranchers and wheat growers on the.
The octopus in the book the octopus, frank norris emphasizes on the issue between wheat farmers and railway workers fight over land. The countrys ability to produce agricultural abundance seemed endless, threatened only by greed and the interference of laws that. Norris wrote this story of california as part one of an unfinished epic of wheat. On the octopus by frank norris if i were teaching a class on naturalism, the octopus would certainly be one of the best assignments i could make. Frank norris novel, the octopus, was intended to the the first book of a trilogy of wheat. The octopus deals primarily with the social conflicts arising out of the industrialisation of the usa. The novel with a purpose brings the tragedies and griefs of others to notice and proves that injustice, crime, and inequality do exist. John steinbeck will read like mills and boon to me now, this is the top shelf stuff. A story of california the epic of the wheat by norris, frank and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Get an answer for in the octopus, what makes presley uniquely american. The octopus was based on the mussel slough tragedy of 1880, a bloody conflict between ranchers and the southern pacific railroad. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
The epic of the wheat the octopus national humanities center. The octopus by frank norris illustrated classics comic. A story of california, first published in 1901 by frank norris, presents modern readers with a view of a specific time and place in american history when california was a new, open land of promise. This study guide consists of approximately 56 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the octopus.
The project gutenberg ebook of the octopus, by frank norris this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. Inspired by the new novel developed by zola and flaubert, norris adapted its methods to american settings, adding his own taste for exciting action and a fascination with the emergent sciences of economics and psychology. It was the first part of an uncompleted trilogy, titled, the epic of the wheat. By the end of this novel, norris has thumped his readers over the head with his overarching philosophical theme. Frank norris 1870 1902, born in chicago, was an american journalist, novelist, and a leader in the naturalist movement. Frank norris norris, frank, 18701902 a wikipedia article about this author is available norris, frank, 18701902. Excerpted and edited from frank norris, the octopus, published in 1901. The octopus 9780140187700, 9781101127483 vitalsource. The second book, the pit, is about trading wheat and cornering the chicago commodity markets. Frank norris, american novelist who was the first important naturalist writer in the united states. But norris, who the inside cover of this book describes as strikingly handsome wrote about more than just wheat. The octopus is a story of wheat raising and railroad greed in california.
A deal in wheat and other stories of the new and old west, vandover and the brute, the surrender of santiago an account of the historic surrender of santiago to gene. Richard white on frank norris, the octopus, and the. Coloradothe deepseated leather chairs, the large and crowded bookcase. The central issue was over the ownership of the ranches, which the farmers had leased from the railroad nearly ten years earlier with intentions of eventually. Read the octopus, free online version of the book by frank norris, on. It describes the raising of wheat in california, and conflict between the wheat growers and a railway company. Based on the bloody mussel slough tragedy a conflict between wheat farmers and the southern pacific railroad the oct. The octopus, novel by frank norris, published in 1901 and subtitled a story of california. I read the octopus by frank norris about 15 years ago in college and remember it being a pretty good read. Frank norris was an american author who wrote primarily in the naturalist genre, focusing on the impact of corruption and turnofthecentury capitalism on common people. A story of california is a novel about wheat growers who are in conflict with a railroad company during late 19th century california. The octopus by frank norris 1901 book one characters. The octopus captures naturalism as well or better than any other example of naturalism.
The development of frank norris into the great novelist he ought to have become could never have been achieved at the sacrifice of those elements of the octopus which are not present in mcteague. A private service will be held for frank norris ii, a physician and scion of one of californias most famous literary families. The pit, though its success on the stage and its energetic drama of business made it popular, falls in interest and power below. Like the tentacles of an octopus, the tracks of the railroad reached o. The octopus by frank norris and publisher dover publications. A california story kindle edition by norris, frank. Frank norris mcteague is a classic naturalist tale about human greed, corruption and the struggle for survival. Individuals and large forces in frank norriss the octopus. A california story, the pacific and southwest railroad is implicated in the suffering and deaths of a number of ranchers in southern california. Like the tentacles of an octopus, the railroad in california reached out across the state, grasping everything of value in the state. The wolf was never completed due to the authors death. The project gutenberg ebook of the octopus, by frank norris this ebook is for. Frank norris the epic of the wheat the octopus a story of california 1901 excerpts the bancroft library p, southern pacific r. Which of these was a corrupt business practice that frank norris exposed in the octopus railroad companies selling land to farmers and secretly keeping legal ownership of the land.
It is full of enthusiasm and poetry and conscious strength. The octopus is about wheat growers and their struggles against a monopolistic railroad. Norriss novel also addresses issues dealing with capitalist forces along with the notion of justice. But why did norris explore the life of jesus at all, if he was so. Richard white on frank norris, the octopus, and the southern pacific railroad. Prior to beginning the octopus, the only thing i knew about frank norris was that his. A story of california by frank norris 1,560 ratings, 3. Richard white on frank norris, the octopus, and the southern. Frank norris based his 1901 novel the octopus a story of california on the mussel slough tragedy of 1880, a bloody conflict between ranchers and agents of the southern pacific railroad. On the first level, of course, the octopus is the railroad system that gradually. Read the octopus, by frank norris online on bookmate the octopus. Norris sadly died after completing the second volume.
The octopus, by frank norris universidade do minho. His fiction is classified under naturalism and has been compared to the works of emile zola, stephen crane, and edith wharton. Frank norris norris, frank, 18701902 the online books. It places these relations between human beings within a larger context of the relationship of humans with nature in its totality, understood by frank norris as supernatural force. Frank norris writings, especially his earlier novel mcteague, are considered by literary critics to mark the very. Frank norriss mother had been a stage actress before her marriage, and she encouraged her sons artistic aspirations.
Frank norris explained to the san francisco examiner in january 1897 that he. Apr 06, 2012 what impact did frank norris make in society after writing the octopus. Frank norris 18701902 trafficking in wheat is a less organic function than either growing or eating it. He attended the university of california in 189094 and then spent another year at harvard. Learn frank norris with free interactive flashcards. Norris delivered more than 4,000 babies and was among the last. A story of california deals with how peoples lives are influenced by forces beyond their control. The octopus is an american classic published in 1901 based on a real conflict between the railroad and the californian farmers in 1880. Stephen crane and theodore dreiser are the names usually at the top of the list of naturalism, but for me the number one spot is occupied by frank norris. A mans woman 1904 gutenberg text norris, frank, 18701902. It describes the wheat industry in california, and the conflicts between wheat growers and a railway company.
The octopus, by frank norris the octopus, by frank norris the octopus a story of california by frank norris book 1 chapter i just after passing carahers saloon, on the county road that ran south from bonneville, and that divided the broderson ranch from that. Like the tentacles of an octopus, the tracks of the railroad reached out across california, as if to grasp everything of value in the state based on an. He modeled his fictional pacific and southwest railroad after the southern pacific, and he got the details right. This library of america volume contains three novels and the collected essays of the most promising of the american naturalist writers. A story of california is a 1901 novel by frank norris.
The classic novel of corporate corruption and violent rebellion in the railroad industry. The railroad company, controlling the local newspaper, state legislature and the land prove to be a tough force for the local wheat growers to fight. Frank norriss work often includes depictions of suffering caused by corrupt and greedy turnofthecentury corporate monopolies. The derrick ranch home is a stately structure, containing many bedrooms, a large kitchen, an expansive dining room, a hallway with a glass ceiling, and an officethe center of the operation, in which telephones, a stock market ticker, and record books are kept. Slick viks post earlier today savage inequalities led me to this section about book topics that i did not know about. Being based on actual bloody events, it narrates the unendin. Read the octopus online, free books by frank norris. Presented to the graduate council of the north texas state university in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of master of arts by timothy thomas oshea, b. The octopus by frank norris read online on bookmate. Bonneville, california now spelled boonville is a town in anderson valley 115 miles north of san francisco. One cannot read it without a responsive thrill of sympathy for the earnestness, the breadth of. Choose the part of the octopus which you want to read from the table of contents to get started. C morrows novel bloodmoney which was published in 1882.
Norris studied painting in paris for two years but then decided that literature was his vocation. A story of california is a 1901 novel by frank norris and was the first part of an uncompleted trilogy, the epic of the wheat. A story of california is a novel written by author frank norris. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the octopus. A deal in wheat, and other stories of the new and old west gutenberg text norris, frank, 18701902. Frank norriss the octopus consists of 16 parts for ease of reading. This novel was a fictional depiction of the relationship between western farmers and the railroad, but it was based on real incidents and situations. A story of california believe this, young man, exclaimed shelgrim, layinga thick powerful forefinger on the table to emphasize his words, try to believe this to begin with that railroads build themselves. The octopus by frank norris the haif bookshelf haif. This is a turnofthecentury epic of california wheat farmers struggling against the rapacity of the pacific and southwestern railroad, which will stop at nothing. Frank norris 18701902 was an american journalist and novelist. The octopus 9780486432120, 9780486146324 vitalsource. A story of california is a 1901 novel by frank norris and the first part of a planned but uncompleted trilogy, the epic of wheat. The point is simply that in the octopus they are not all assimilated properly, not yet perfectly subdued to.
The octopus examines the struggle of california wheat farmers in the san joaquin valley against. The octopus examines the struggle of california wheat farmers in. Presley it could be seen that morally he was of that sort who avoid evil through good taste, lack of decision, and want of opportunity. It was the first volume of the epic of the wheat, his unfinished trilogy about the production, distribution, and consumption of american wheat.
From chapter 2 on the following morning, harran derrick was up and about by a little after six oclock, and a quarter of an hour later had breakfast in the kitchen of the ranch house, preferring not to wait until the chinese cook laid the table in the regular diningroom. Derrick 50, pretty magnus derrick governor from north carolina. Choose from 12 different sets of frank norris flashcards on quizlet. His 1901 novel the octopus dramatized the conflicts between california ranchers and wheat growers on the one side and the railroad and its political machine on the other. The octopus, a story of california was published in 1901 as part of an intended three part series about wheat. Rob magnuson smith on why frank norris the octopus is the best book of 1901. March 5, 1870 october 25, 1902 was an american journalist and novelist during the progressive era, whose fiction was predominantly in the naturalist genre. Best known for his novel mcteague and for the first two parts of his unfinished the epic of the wheat trilogythe octopus. What does the giant octopus refer to in the novel of frank norris. Excerpted and edited from frank norris, the octopus.
It is a story of california, a california opened up by the railroad to find a new wealth in farming the san joaquin valley. I thought at first that the octopus was a work by ian fleming, but no, its by frank norris, an american writer, inspired by the french writer emile zola, and writing as the 19th century crossed over into the 20th. Literature network frank norris the octopus conclusion conclusion the swanhilda cast off from the docks at port costa two days after presley had left bonneville and the ranches and made her way up to san francisco, anchoring in the stream off the city front. A story of california 1901 is a novel by the american frank norris. The epic of the wheat sounds so boring, but i didnt find it boring at all, at least not the first book, by the time the wheat is made into bread and biscuits and all that kind of thing, who knows, perhaps ill be bored. Progressive movement a movement the aimed to return control of the government to the people.
310 282 1222 1015 849 1085 981 993 1045 700 78 683 367 938 613 515 61 858 807 1317 1245 1116 1306 925 66 1480 1337