Naturalism

Definition A literary movement popular in the 1890s and early 1900s. It had a resurgence of popularity in the 1930s. This type of literature is most popular during times of hardship – financial, emotional or otherwise.

Popular Naturalistic Writers Stephen Crane Frank Norris Jack London John Steinbeck

SETTING An urban setting

Characteristics Ordinary characters are the main characters Use of vernacular language ( common language) Realistic presentation of life: life is portrayed as it really is

Concentrate on the negative side of life: - wars, poverty, disease, etc. Anti- sentimental: only write about the present / never write about the good old days Very factual writing: gives the reader the facts and allows him to draw his own conclusions

Fatalistic: Do not believe a man controls his own fate Fatalistic: Do not believe a man controls his own fate. No free will to determine his destiny Man is crushed by either a social or natural force which he cannot change Pessimistic: Society will not improve

World is amoral: no reward for goodness Stories are often ironic: surprise endings

LANGUAGE IN NATURALISM Typically vernacular- Captures the speech of the common, ordinary citizen Ex: “Eh, child what is it dis time? Is yer fader beatin’ yer mudder or yer mudder beatin’ yer fader?” (last line of Chapter 2 of Maggie) Style is very factual, detail oriented—much like a newspaper account

Favorite Naturalistic Themes Man’s inhumanity to man Nature’s indifference to mankind

How is the following quote an example of naturalism? “ A man said to the universe: ‘Sir, I exist!’ ‘However,’ replied the universe, ‘The fact has not created in me a sense of obligation’” Stephen Crane