How Howells OR James differ from Whitman in terms of tone, purpose, and genre

Full Answer Section

Purpose

• Whitman: Whitman's purpose is to celebrate the American experience and to create a national literature that is inclusive and democratic.
• Howells: Howells's purpose is to use his fiction to explore social and moral issues. He believed that literature could be a force for good in the world.
• James: James's purpose is to explore the inner lives of his characters and to examine the complexities of human relationships.

Genre

• Whitman: Whitman's most famous work is Leaves of Grass, a collection of poems that celebrates the beauty of the natural world and the common man.
• Howells: Howells was a prolific writer who wrote in a variety of genres, including novels, short stories, essays, and travelogues. His most famous novel is The Rise of Silas Lapham, a story about a self-made man who falls from grace.
• James: James was a master of the novel of manners, which explores the social and moral conventions of his time. His most famous novels include The Portrait of a Lady and The Turn of the Screw.

Overall, Whitman, Howells, and James were all important figures in American literature. They each had their own unique voice and style, and they all made significant contributions to the development of American literature.

Sample Answer

Tone

• Whitman: Whitman's tone is often optimistic and celebratory. He celebrates the common man and the beauty of the natural world.
• Howells: Howells's tone is more realistic and restrained. He is interested in the social and moral implications of his characters' actions.
  James: James's tone is often ironic and complex. He is interested in the inner lives of his characters and the psychological motivations for their actions.