2026 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Harriet Beecher Stowe

Document Type

Student Presentation

Presentation Date

4-24-2026

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Tara Penry

Abstract

This research examines Harriet Beecher Stowe’s literary development, focusing on her early short stories. While previous studies have centered on her most famous novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and its significance in anti-slavery literature, less attention has been paid to her short stories and essays as formative works. This study will demonstrate that her short stories served as a foundational practice that not only shaped her overall writing development but also directly influenced her later, more extensive works. These early writings helped refine her storytelling skills and laid the groundwork for her influential novels. Through literary analysis and biographical study, it will show how her short stories, centered on social themes like justice, women’s rights, and social commentary, served as a vital foundation for honing her writing skills and shaping the themes in her later novels. Understanding this progression gives a greater appreciation of her short stories as her foundation for addressing the complex social issues and bringing about social change in American literature.

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