Realism 1860 (ish)-early 1900s

The Catalyst The era’s origins lie in the increasing tension between the North and South The Civil War prompted a shift in philosophy, literature, art, and politics…every aspect of American society.

Responses to the War Some responded with Idealism Emerson: optimistic, full of patriotic fervor had long warned that this would happen if slavery wasn’t abolished Whitman: saw horrifying images but maintained optimism Believed the war did reveal strength and heroism

Other Reactions Disillusionment Herman Melville: war increased pessimism Believed war revealed “humanity’s basic evil”

Images of War Walt Whitman wrote of the appalling condition of medical services Wounded on field for days No anesthesia Amputation and death

The War in Literature Many historical works Letters, journals, diaries Very little literature produced…why? Few major writers saw the war first-hand **traditional literary forms were inadequate to express the horrifying details Realistic novel had not been developed in U.S.

1st Realism novel about the war The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane He was born 6 yrs. after the war Ironist: juxtapose human pretensions with indifference of the universe

The Rise of Realism Reaction against Romanticism Romanticism did not capture real people and real circumstances Realist writers aim at “a minute fidelity” to ordinary life Wrote about slums, factories, corruption, cities rather than romantic settings

Goals of Realism Inspired by European writers Attempted to portray extreme accuracy and detail Focused on not just WHAT people do…but WHY Psychology Biology Sociology

American Regionalism Literature that emphasizes a specific geographic setting Illustrates speech and customs of that region Most famous American Regionalist Mark Twain

Naturalism Dissect human behavior with as much objectivity as possible Scientific approach Human behavior is determined by forces beyond the individual’s power ***view life as a grim, losing battle Human beings are subject to the natural laws of the universe Fate over freewill

Psychological Fiction Concentrated on distinctions in character motivation Believed in freewill more than naturalists Famous writers of psychological novels Henry James Stephen Crane