It was one of two short stories which brought the author national attention. An example of naturalism and local color of California during the first half of the nineteenth century, the story was first published in January 1869 in the magazine Overland Monthly. ' The Outcasts of Poker Flat' (1869) is a short story written by author of the American West Bret Harte. 'The Outcasts of Poker Flat' from The Overland Monthly, January 1869 ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) ( November 2014) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for suggestions. GradeSaver, 22 November 2023 Web.This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. Next Section Imagery Previous Section Metaphors and Similes Buy Study Guide How To Cite in MLA Format GradeSaver 'The Outcasts of Poker Flat Irony'. It is ironic that Tom sets out for Poker Flat to 'seek his fortune,' yet he actually meets his demise by doing so. It is ironic that Tom Simson is called The Innocent yet he ends up in the company of four people who have been exiled from Poker Flat because they were deemed improper. It is ironic that two of the characters are named after trees (Piney Woods and John Oakhurst) and they both die in the forest. It is ironic that the town of Poker Flat believes it is purging the town of evil by hypocritically banishing people, itself an ultimately nefarious act. The playing card that he uses to mark his grave symbolizes this ultimate irony. It is ironic that John Oakhurst is a skilled gambler renown for winning poker games, yet he succumbs to what he envisions as his cosmic lack of fortune by killing himself at the story's close. However, John chooses not to tell his companions. When Uncle Billy runs off with the group's mules-their sole hope for transportation through the snowy mountain pass-John Oakhurst and the narrator (and therefore the reader) are aware of the damning consequences of this event on Tom, Piney, and John's fellow exiles. Buy Study Guide Uncle Billy's Betrayal (Dramatic Irony)

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