Themes and Symbols in The Outcasts of Poker Flat

The video discusses Bret Harte's short story 'The Outcasts of Poker Flat', highlighting its naturalist themes. The story follows a group of exiles from Poker Flat who face harsh conditions in the wilderness. Themes of innocence, guilt, and fate are explored as the characters struggle for survival. The story questions the rigid moral judgments of society and suggests that nature is indifferent to human distinctions between good and evil.

What literary movement is 'The Outcasts of Poker Flat' an example of?

• Realism

• Naturalism

• Modernism

• Romanticism

What does the naturalist movement emphasize in storytelling?

• Romantic ideals

• Scientific observation

• Mystical elements

• Historical accuracy

What is the main reason for the secret council's meeting in Poker Flat?

• To plan a festival

• To decide on new laws

• To build a new town hall

• To exile those deemed unfit

Who among the exiled is a gambler?

• The Duchess

• John Oakhurst

• Mother Shipton

• Uncle Billy

What is the primary setting of 'The Outcasts of Poker Flat'?

• A remote village

• A California town

• A desert oasis

• A bustling city

What is the main reason for the economic and moral decline in Poker Flat?

• Natural disasters

• Gambling and vice

• Lack of resources

• Corruption

What is the destination the exiled group decides to head towards?

• Gold Hill

• San Francisco

• Poker Flat

• Sandy Bar

Who is known as 'The Innocent'?

• John Oakhurst

• Tom Simpson

• Uncle Billy

• Piney Woods

What does Tom Simpson bring that helps the group?

• A map

• Extra provisions

• A horse

• A tent

What natural event complicates the group's situation?

• A landslide

• A flood

• An earthquake

• A snowstorm