You have asked a very interesting question because at
first glance, these two stories appear very different. Twain writes his story with
characteristic understated humour, combining use of hyperbole with a dry, dead-pan tone
to increase the comedy. Brose's story, on the, other hand, is set during the Civil War
and features a man being hung on a bridge. Two very different themes, I am sure you will
agree!
However, the similarity lies in the period in which
both stories were written and the school of literature which is used to describe works
produced during this time. Both are examples of realist fiction, in that both reject the
larger than life hero of Romantic literature, they give detailed depiction of ordinary
characters and realistic events and scenarios (even if Twain's story isn't realistic,
the setting definitely is), there is an emphasis on characters from the lower classes
and there is an avoidance of exotic and overly dramatic events (except of course in the
Tall Tale in Twain's story). Lastly, another key aspect of Realistic fiction is the use
of everyday speech patterns to reveal class distinctions. Twain in particular is a
master of this and uses the vernacular extensively in his
writings.
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