American Realism, Regionalism, and Naturalism 1855-1920

Realism “The Civil War was a violent clash, not just of armies, but of ideas. Who was right, and who was wrong? What did it mean to be an American? Was any price too high to pay to keep the nation whole?”

What is Realism? 1855-1870 A reaction against Romanticism A faithful representation of reality in literature Emphasis on complex characters who are ordinary people, not heroes or villains Portrays ordinary settings & realistic situations, especially those that allow for accurate depictions of society and culture Written in true to life dialogue that captures the natural dialect Detached narration: allows the narrator to sound unbiased & distant Tone is ironic, satiric, or matter-of-fact Social Themes are class conflicts, urbanization, corruption, marriage, & family life

Realist Writers Walt Whitman Emily Dickinson Frederick Douglass Abraham Lincoln Ambrose Bierce Mark Twain

What brought about Realism? Cultural Divide The Civil War The urbanization and industrialization of America Increasing rates of democracy and literacy The emerging middle class

Regionalism and Naturalism “Vast, varied, filled with seemingly limitless possibilities – that was the United States in the years following the Civil War. Yet, all around them in this land of hope and opportunity, writers saw fellow Americans living lives of hardship and even despair. Regionalism tried to capture the reality of ordinary people’s lives; naturalism searched for explanations.”

Regionalism (1870-1920) Often called “local color.” Focuses on characters, dialect, customs, topography, and other features specific to a certain region (the South) Coincided with Realism and shared many of the same traits.

Why did Regionalism develop? The Civil War and the building of a national identity Boom in publishing in late 1800s; magazines published many short stories An outgrowth of realism with more focus on a particular setting and its influence over characters

Regionalist Mark Twain Kate Chopin

What is Naturalism? Applied scientific principles of objectivity and detachment to the study of human beings. Influenced by the science of Darwinism (natural selection), the psychology of Freud, and philosophy of Marx. Posited that men were governed by heredity, instinct and environment. Often depict man in conflict with nature, society, or himself. Nature & universe is cold & indifferent. Individuals are victims of forces they can not control (fate)

Naturalist Writers Mark Twain EA Robinson Jack London Stephen Crane Charlotte Perkins Gilman Edith Wharton

Why did Naturalism develop? Pessimism in the wake of the Civil War and Reconstruction The swell of immigrants in the latter half of the 19th century, which led to a larger lower class and increased poverty in the cities The prominence of psychology and the theories of Sigmund Freud Publication of Charles Darwin’s Origin of the Species Publication of Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto

Points to Remember… Realism, Regionalism, and Naturalism are intertwined and connected. Their influence has dominated most literature created since 1920, though the movement itself is dated to roughly that point. They are truly American modes of writing.