The Octopus: A Story of California by Frank Norris
A: Now, it's time for a little research on your part. Find an article about a historical event occurring within the ten years prior to your novel's publication. Please cite this article in your post and provide a link, if appropriate. Discuss how this event impacted the work you are reading. The effect may be subtle. For instance, there may be no mention of war, and yet you may recognize possible effects of war within the characters.
B: This week you learned a little bit about several of the major movements in American literature. Which of these movements do you see reflected in the novel you are reading? Do you see influence of more than one? Give specific cited examples that point to these movements.