Frank Norris

Definition

Frank Norris was an American novelist and journalist, known for his significant contributions to the literary movement of Naturalism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is particularly recognized for works like 'McTeague' and 'The Octopus', which explore the harsh realities of life, the influence of environment and heredity on human behavior, and the struggles of individuals against powerful social forces.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Frank Norris is often regarded as one of the pioneers of Naturalism in American literature, highlighting how environment and social circumstances shape human lives.
2. His work 'McTeague' reflects the brutal reality of life in urban America, demonstrating how personal desires can lead to tragic outcomes.
3. In 'The Octopus', Norris illustrates the impact of corporate power on individual lives, using a storyline that intertwines human struggle with larger economic forces.
4. Norris believed in depicting characters who were often at the mercy of uncontrollable forces such as nature, society, and fate, a hallmark of Naturalist literature.
5. His untimely death at age 32 from appendicitis cut short a promising career but left a lasting influence on American literature and later writers.

Review Questions

• How did Frank Norris's works exemplify the principles of Naturalism in literature?
  • Frank Norris's works embody Naturalism through their focus on how environment and heredity shape human behavior. In novels like 'McTeague', he illustrates characters struggling against societal forces and their own instincts, portraying life as a battle influenced by factors beyond individual control. This aligns with Naturalist principles that emphasize realism and deterministic views on human existence.
• Discuss the role of corporate power in Frank Norris's 'The Octopus' and how it reflects social issues of his time.
  • In 'The Octopus', corporate power is portrayed as an oppressive force that dominates individual farmers, reflecting real-life struggles during a period when monopolies were becoming increasingly influential. Norris critiques these practices by illustrating the conflict between small-scale farmers and powerful corporations over control of resources. This tension underscores larger social issues related to capitalism and its impact on personal freedom and livelihood.
• Evaluate how Frank Norris's portrayal of characters in 'McTeague' reveals his views on fate and desire within a Naturalist framework.
  • In 'McTeague', Frank Norris uses his characters to explore themes of fate and desire within a Naturalist framework by showing how their choices lead to inevitable tragic consequences. The protagonist's unchecked greed drives him toward violence and ruin, highlighting the idea that human beings are often subject to forces beyond their comprehension. This portrayal serves as a critique of individualism, suggesting that personal desires can have destructive outcomes when influenced by societal pressures and environmental conditions.

Related terms

Naturalism: A literary movement that emerged in the late 19th century, focusing on a realistic portrayal of life, emphasizing the influence of environment, heredity, and social conditions on human behavior.

The Octopus: A novel by Frank Norris published in 1901, which critiques the monopolistic practices of the wheat industry and illustrates the conflicts between individual farmers and large corporations.

McTeague: A novel by Frank Norris published in 1899 that tells the story of a dentist whose greed leads to his downfall, showcasing themes of desire, fate, and the darker aspects of human nature.