Realist Expressions: Adherence and Divergence in George Saunders's “Sticks” Janel Stevenson College

George Saunders Tenth of December is an assembly of short stories that are considered realist in nature. These innovative capsules depict events that happen in day-to-day life but Saunders let’s his creative mind flourish, making them entirely unique to the cannon of what is known as realism. In his short story “Sticks” the main character known to the reader as the father embellishes a single stick in his yard, and is accounted for through the years by his son. This small package of a story enlarges the scope of Saunders realist label, which expresses signs of departure from its traditional outlook and showcase its arrival to the Sci-Fi Genre. The traditional definition of realism is kept alive in “Sticks” while it also maintains an unearthly presence within the text. Saunders keeps the definition of realism alive by showcasing an “ordinary” father who has a hobby his family doesn’t understand - a more than normal occurrence - and also showcases Holidays where the family decorates. This story can also be seen as realism because the accountant is from the father’s son and as he ages the story is seen through eyes that continue to mature. This expresses the different perspectives individuals acquire, as they get older is...