AMERICAN REALISM 1865-1910

Historical Context The years following the Civil War symbolized a time of healing and rebuilding. In literary circles, however, this time period is full of upheaval and struggle. A literary civil war raged between the Romantics, the Realists, and the Naturalists.

Historical Context The industrial revolution took place at the end of the 19th century and changed the country in many ways. People left the country and went to the city to live. With new machinery and equipment, the economy focused on factories. Farming was no longer relied on so heavily. The immigration boom occurred. People worldwide flocked to the USA.

Literary Wars Verbal wars were waged over the ways that fictional characters were presented in relation to their external world. Using plot and character development, a writer stated his/her philosophy about how much control mankind has over his destiny

Characteristics of Realism They drew on the grim realities of life, the breakdown of traditional values, and the growing plight of the new urban poor (read ghettoes). Realists built their plots and characters on ordinary, everyday lives. They clearly communicated the complexities of the human experience.

HOW THE GENRES PORTRAYED THEIR CHARACTERS Romantics – a god Realists – simply a person Naturalists – a helpless object

Romanticism Vs. Realism Emphasizes imagination and emotions Depicts larger-than-life heroes Views the world idealistically Focuses on the exotic, the supernatural and imaginary worlds Realism Emphasizes accuracy and objectivity Depicts common, everyday heroes Views the world scientifically Focuses on real situations

Regionalism A subgenre of Realism Their writing was regional, emphasizing specific geographic settings and made use of the speech and manners of the people that live in that region. In the face of modernization, people feared the loss of traditions and folk ways, so writers set their stories in specific American regions.

American Realists vs. American Naturalists ( a subgenre of Realism) American realists believed that humanity’s freedom of choice was limited by the power of outside forces. A person has choices and some freewill, but environment and others can hamper those choices American naturalists supported the determinism movement. They argued that individuals have no choice because a person’s life was dictated by heredity and the external environment.

Realistic Literature Will… Contain themes that center on contemporary society and on the lives of the middle and lower classes Describe the details of everyday life, even if they are unpleasant or difficult to think about Feature characters that are based on the poor or outcasts of society Avoid extravagant language in favor of simpler, everyday diction, and will often imitate regional dialects that help reveal their speech patterns, behaviors and attitudes Emphasize irony

So who are some of the Realist writers we’ll study? Walt Whitman Frederick Douglass Abraham Lincoln Ambrose Bierce Mark Twain Kate Chopin How many of these are you already familiar with?