The Outcasts of Poker Flat

Harte writes “The Outcasts of Poker Flat” in the style of Western Regionalism, which showcases a period of American history that influenced how the West is portrayed in literature. How might this story take place in another region of the United States? How would a different setting affect the dialect, physical landscape, plot, characterization, and conflicts?

The story takes place over the course of two weeks in 1850, during the pinnacle of the California Gold Rush. Research this period and discuss how it began, the types of people who traveled west to participate in it, and what events and circumstances ended it. How realistically are Poker Flat and its inhabitants portrayed in the story?

The narration offers limited descriptions of the characters’ thoughts. Cite passages from the story in which the narration is broken and becomes first-person. Why do you think Harte chooses to do this? What effect does this have on the story?