literature finds its roots in the city's tradition of lucid, direct journalism, lending to a strong tradition of social realism . In the Encyclopedia of Chicago , Northwestern University Professor Bill Savage describes Chicago fiction as prose which tries to "capture the essence of the city, its spaces and its people." The challenge for early writers was that Chicago was a frontier outpost that transformed into a global metropolis in the span of two generations. Narrative fiction of that time, much of it in the style of "high-flown romance" and "genteel realism", needed a new approach to describe the urban social, political, and economic conditions of Chicago. [ 174 ] Nonetheless, Chicagoans worked hard to create a literary tradition that would stand the test of time, [ 175 ] and create a "city of feeling" out of concrete, steel, vast lake, and open prairie. [ 176 ] Much notable Chicago fiction focuses on the city itself, with social criticism keeping exultation in check. The Chicago Bears , one of the last two remaining charter members of the National Football League (NFL), has won nine NFL Championships , including Super Bowl XX . The other remaining charter franchise, the Chicago Cardinals , also started out in the city, but is now known as the Arizona Cardinals . The Bears play their home games at Soldier Field , named after "The men and women of the armed forces". It is located next to the shores of Lake Michigan, on Lake Shore Drive.