Review the cultural and historical background outlined in the anthology introduction and note the many ways in which America was leaping into a new modern age. Not surprisingly, some people welcomed the changes while others feared that local folkways and traditions would be soon forgotten. Responding to these sentiments, realistic writers set their stories in specific American regions, rushing to capture the "local color" before it was lost. Choose two of the "local color" or regional stories we've read this week and compare and contrast how the characters in the stories grapple with change and how change can call a character's sense of identity into question.
Next, write a brief description of your hometown using regional or 'local color' details -- how do your people talk? what peculiar mannerisms or customs do your people observe? what makes your setting unique compared to the erst of the country? Which of the regional stories we've read this week would you use as a model for writing a regional depiction of your hometown? Explain your choices.
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