Bartleby the scrivener summary
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Florence Boos: Teaching and Publication Site
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Background:
What were some of Melville’s occupations in early life? (bank clerk, sailor on a whaling ship, writer).
What were some of his early books written before “Bartleby,” and which of these were popular? (Typee, Omoo, Redburn, White-Jacket, Mardi, Moby-Dick, Pierre, The Isle of the Cross; the travel books were liked and the brooding existential ones brought bad reviews.)
In 1853-56 during a period of depression and eye problems Melville published a series of stories in Harper’s and Putnam’s, and the latter, which included “Bartleby,” were collected as The Piazza Tales. Later works included a novel, The Confidence Man, and several volumes of poetry, including Battle-Pieces and Clarel. Melville continued writing despite inability to maintain his family by literary endeavors, and he, his wife and four children were supported for many years chiefly by loans and bequests from his wife’s father. Melville was abusive to his family, especially during the 1860s, and some, including his wife, feared h
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Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Herman Melville's Bartleby, the Scrivener. Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.
Bartleby: Introduction
A concise biography of Herman Melville plus historical and literary context for Bartleby, the Scrivener.
Bartleby: Plot Summary
A quick-reference summary: Bartleby, the Scrivener on a single page.
Bartleby: Detailed Summary & Analysis
In-depth summary and analysis of every of Bartleby, the Scrivener. Visual theme-tracking, too.
Bartleby: Themes
Explanations, analysis, and visualizations of Bartleby, the Scrivener's themes.
Bartleby: Quotes
Bartleby, the Scrivener's important quotes, sortable by theme, character, or .
Bartleby: Characters
Description, analysis, and timelines for Bartleby, the Scrivener's characters.
Bartleby: Symbols
Explanations of Bartleby, the Scrivener's symbols, and tracking of where they appear.
Bartleby: Literary Devices
Bartleby, the Scrivener's key literary devices explained and sortable by chapter.
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Bartleby, the Scrivener
Short story by Herman Melville
"Bartleby" redirects here. For other uses, see Bartleby (disambiguation).
"Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street" Country United States Language English Genre(s) Short story Published in Putnam's Magazine Publication type Periodical Publication date November–December 1853 Pages 45
"Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street" is a short story by American writer Herman Melville, first serialized anonymously in two parts in the November and December 1853 issues of Putnam's Magazine and reprinted with minor textual alterations in his The Piazza Tales in 1856. In the story, a Wall Street lawyer hires a new clerk, who after an initial bout of hard work, refuses to make copies or do any other task required of him, responding to any request with the words "I would prefer not to."
The story likely takes place between 1848 and 1853, during the Antebellum period in American history.
Numerous critical essays have been published about the story, which scholar Robert M
Bartleby, the Scrivener
Short story by Herman Melville
"Bartleby" redirects here. For other uses, see Bartleby (disambiguation).
| "Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street" | |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Short story |
| Published in | Putnam's Magazine |
| Publication type | Periodical |
| Publication date | November–December 1853 |
| Pages | 45 |
"Bartleby, the Scrivener: A Story of Wall Street" is a short story by American writer Herman Melville, first serialized anonymously in two parts in the November and December 1853 issues of Putnam's Magazine and reprinted with minor textual alterations in his The Piazza Tales in 1856. In the story, a Wall Street lawyer hires a new clerk, who after an initial bout of hard work, refuses to make copies or do any other task required of him, responding to any request with the words "I would prefer not to."
The story likely takes place between 1848 and 1853, during the Antebellum period in American history.
Numerous critical essays have been published about the story, which scholar Robert M
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