Condition of Children

Photo by Lewis Hine

Young children working in a mill in 1909

As the Industrial Revolution spread throughout Europe and America, the condition of children came to the forefront of society's concerns. With the advent of better living conditions and advances in psychology and child development, the concept of child well-being was explored publicly for the first time. The education, socialization, and purpose of children became a debated topic. Suddenly, a child's development and perspective became popular, and writers like Mark Twain used this to build sympathy for the plight and condition of children.

In this topic, you will study the characteristics of Regionalism through the works of Mark Twain and examine how literature was used to illustrate the social conventions and issues of the time period.

Essential Questions

• What is Regionalism and how is it used in literature?
  
• How can Realism be used in a light-hearted way yet still convey social conventions and issues?