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The provided excerpt from Scene III of The Emperor Jones MOST represents which characteristic of Expressionism?

a. Realism
b. Surrealism
c. Symbolism
d. Absurdism

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The excerpt from Scene III of The Emperor Jones is most representative of Symbolism in the Expressionism style, where emotional experience and inner feelings are expressed through symbolic, sometimes non-realistic elements that convey inner turmoil.

Step-by-step explanation:

Expressionism in The Emperor Jones

The excerpt from Scene III of The Emperor Jones most represents the characteristic of Symbolism (c) in the style of Expressionism. Expressionism is an art and literary movement where artists sought to express emotional experience and inner feelings, often using distorted reality to convey the passion of these feelings. The Expressionists used the application of color and brushstrokes as their signature, developing images that preceded modern art. This is seen in the upheaval of world wars and political disorder, all reflected within the style that characterizes Expressionism. Specifically, in literary works like The Emperor Jones, Expressionism manifests through symbolic, sometimes non-realistic characters and settings that externalize inner turmoil and existential concerns.

In contrast to artistic styles that focus on everyday life and reality, such as Realism, which is characterized by depictions of everyday subjects and societal classes with a focus on the working class, Expressionism seeks to reveal more profound emotional layers and responses to societal conditions. Likewise, the style of Expressionism differs from movements such as Realism and Naturalism, with the latter presenting impersonal depictions of characters influenced by their environment and genetics over which they have no control (d).

Furthermore, movements like Romanticism glorified nature, common people, exotic places, and the historical past (a), while movements such as Surrealism focused on Freud's theories about dreams and the subconscious mind, showcasing imaginative and often bizarre visuals, inspired by the absurdity perceived in societal conventions.

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