Question

Select the correct text in the passage. Realism was a popular literary movement in nineteenth-century America. American realist writers attempted to convey life authentically by including elements in their works such as true-to-life settings and characters, as well as regional dialects that reflected how people really talked. Which of the following excerpts contain elements of realism? "No, you won't. Set down and stay where you are. I ain't going to hurt you, and I ain't going to tell on you, nuther. You just tell me your secret, and trust me. I'll keep it; and, what's more, I'll help you. So'll my old man if you want him to. You see, you're a runaway 'prentice, that's all. It ain't anything.  There ain't no harm in it. You've been treated bad, and you made up your mind to cut.  Bless you, child, I wouldn't tell on you. Tell me all about it now, that's a good boy." (Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn) She had pagan eyes, full of nocturnal mysteries, and their light, as it came and went, and came again, was partially hampered by their oppressive lids and lashes; and of these the under lid was much fuller than it usually is with English women. This enabled her to indulge in reverie without seeming to do so—she might have been believed capable of sleeping without closing them up. Assuming that the souls of men and women were visible essences, you could fancy the colour of Eustacia's soul to be flamelike. The sparks from it that rose into her dark pupils gave the same impression. (Thomas Hardy, The Return of the Native) Then the gardener's eldest son set out and thought to find the golden bird very easily; and when he had gone but a little way, he came to a wood, and by the side of the wood he saw a fox sitting; so he took his bow and made ready to shoot at it. Then the fox said, 'Do not shoot me, for I will give you good counsel; I know what your business is, and that you want to find the golden bird. You will reach a village in the evening; and when you get there, you will see two inns opposite to each other, one of which is very pleasant and beautiful to look at: go not in there, but rest for the night in the other, though it may appear to you to be very poor and mean.' (Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm, Grimm's’ Fairy Tales) Now, as Christian was walking solitarily by himself, he espied one afar off, come crossing over the field to meet him; and their hap was to meet just as they were crossing the way of each other. The gentleman's name that met him was Mr. Worldly Wiseman, he dwelt in the town of Carnal Policy, a very great town, and also hard by from whence Christian came. This man, then, meeting with Christian, and having some inkling of him,—for Christian's setting forth from the City of Destruction was much noised abroad, not only in the town where he dwelt, but also it began to be the town talk in some other places,—Mr. Worldly Wiseman, therefore, having some guess of him, by beholding his laborious going, by observing his sighs and groans, and the like, began thus to enter into some talk with Christian. (John Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress)

Answer 1

The excerpt that contains elements of realism is:

"No, you won't. Set down and stay where you are. I ain't going to hurt you, and I ain't going to tell on you, nuther. You just tell me your secret, and trust me. I'll keep it; and, what's more, I'll help you. So'll my old man if you want him to. You see, you're a runaway 'prentice, that's all. It ain't anything. There ain't no harm in it. You've been treated bad, and you made up your mind to cut. Bless you, child, I wouldn't tell on you. Tell me all about it now, that's a good boy." (Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn)

The selected excerpt from "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain contains elements of realism. Realism in literature involves portraying life as it is, with a focus on authentic settings, characters, and language reflective of real-life speech patterns and regional dialects.

In this passage, the dialogue between the characters is presented in a manner that captures the authentic way people spoke during the time and in a specific regional context. The use of colloquial language, contractions (such as "ain't"), and regional dialect ("Set down" instead of "Sit down") contributes to the realistic portrayal of the characters and the setting. Additionally, the content of the dialogue addresses common real-life situations, such as a person running away and seeking understanding and assistance from another.