The American Short
Story
“The Blue Hotel”
By: Stephen Crane
Stephen Crane (1871-1900)


American journalist, poet, and author
He wrote:




Maggie, a Girl of the Streets: a Story of New York
(1893)
The Red Badge of Courage: an episode of the
American Civil War (1895)
"The Black Riders and Other Lines" (1895), "The Little
Regiment" (1896), "The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky"
(1897), The Third Violet (1897), "The Blue Hotel"
(1898), "War Is Kind" (1899), The Monster and Other
Stories (1899), Active Service (1899), and "The Open
Boat" (1898)
At the age of 28, Stephen Crane died on June
5, 1900.
Literary Naturalism
4 Main characteristics:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Pessimism (Main characteristic): a character tends to repeat a
phrase having a pessimistic outlook, which sometimes emphasizes
the inevitability and quality of death.
Detachment of the narrator (Objective tone): Story often introduces
nameless characters and focuses mainly on the plot and setting
rather than focusing on the characters’ emotions.
Determinism: Story focuses on fate or nature and is the opposite of
the belief of free will. The fate of the character has already been
predetermined by certain factors, most often environmental factors,
and he can do nothing to change it.
Surprising Plot Twist: Natural forces create a surprising situation for
a character, which he is unable to escape. (Futility of struggle)
In general, there is a strong sense in the naturalist stories and
novels that nature is not affected by human struggle.
“A Man said to the Universe”
By: Stephen Crane
A man said to the universe:
"Sir I exist!"
"However," replied the universe,
"The fact has not created in me
A sense of obligation."
 How
does this apply the principles of
Naturalism?
Review Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Which three men does Pat Scully entice from
the train station to stay in the blue hotel?
What does Pat Scully pull from beneath his
bed to entice the Swede to remain at the blue
hotel?
Who kills the Swede?
What is the setting of the story? Be specific
with the environment and what state.
Which character tells us that he feels regret for
the Swede’s death at the end of the story?
Naturalism
 The
term naturalism describes a type of
literature that attempts to apply scientific
principles of objectivity and detachment to
its study of human beings.

Unlike realism, which focuses on literary
technique, naturalism implies a philosophical
position:
• For naturalistic writers, since human beings are, in
Emile Zola's phrase, "human beasts," characters
can be studied through their relationships to their
surroundings.
Literary Naturalism

A literary movement which flourished in America
from1890 to 1910.
 A literary movement began in 19th century France.
 A literary movement portraying humans as powerless or
helpless victims of natural and social forces.
 Famous American Naturalist Authors:




Stephen Crane
Jack London
Theodore Dreiser
Frank Norris
“The Blue Hotel”
 Themes:

Naturalism
•
•
•
•
Control by nature
Control by social environment (Community)
Control by chemicals and our own bodies
Control by inner nature


Does Man have “ANY” control over their destiny?
Discrimination/ stereotypes
“A Man said to the Universe”
By: Stephen Crane
A man said to the universe:
"Sir I exist!"
"However," replied the universe,
"The fact has not created in me
A sense of obligation."
 How
does this apply to “The Blue
Hotel”?
Discussion Questions
 What
role does the setting or nature play
in the story?

"We picture the world as thick with conquering and elate
humanity, but here, with the bugles of the tempest pealing, it was
hard to imagine a peopled earth. One viewed the existence of
man then as a marvel, and conceded a glamour of wonder to
these lice which were caused to cling to a whirling, firesmitten, ice-locked, disease-stricken, space-lost bulb” (58).
 Are
the characters well-developed? Are
they more like types? Explain your
response.
Discussion Questions

What does Crane imply when he writes:


“There was a great tumult, and then was seen a long
blade in the hand of the gambler. It shot forward, and
a human body, this citadel of virtue, wisdom, power,
was pierced as easily as if it had been a melon. The
Swede fell with a cry of supreme astonishment” (62).
How might one interpret the ending of the story?

“We are all in it! This poor gambler isn’t even a noun.
He is kind of an adverb. Every sin is the result of
collaboration” (64).
Debate
Group 1: How might the ending be seen as
in direct contrast to naturalism?
Group 2: How might one argue that the
ending still maintains the characteristics of
literary naturalism?