The Civil War and Postwar Period 1850-1900 The Rise of Realism The Civil War and Postwar Period 1850-1900
April 12, 1861 Confederate attack on Fort Sumter Opening shots of Civil War
Walt Whitman Learned of first shots Worked in hospital during the war One of the few writers who witnessed the war first hand Optimistic and idealistic response to war
Ralph Waldo Emerson Also viewed war in idealistic light Warned this day would come (if slavery not abolished) Filled with patriotic pride
Herman Melville Disillusioned by war Writing examined humanity’s basic evil
The War in Literature Very little literary output Most major American writers did not see the war first hand (at home, abroad, or died). Traditional literary forms not sufficient to express horrors of war. “Realistic novel” not dev. yet
The Rise of Realism Realist writers: aimed at very specific truths in the common everyday experiences After the war, writers drew subjects from slums, factories, rising industrialism, etc. Realism began in Europe. Attempt to rep. environment and manners of everyday life accurately Attempt to explain why people behave the way they do Dependant on new social sciences (psych, sociology) and on biology
American Regionalism Lit. that emphasizes specific geogr. setting Realistic portrayal of speech patterns and mannerisms Often unrealistic and/or sentimental (ie, Mark Twain)
Realism and Naturalism Naturalists tended to look at life as grim losing battle. Characters w/ limited choices and were totally subject to natural laws of universe Focus on social questions/concerns with hope of reform—even more important than the action
Psychological Fiction Psychological novel (Henry James) focuses on character motivation. Exploration of complex social and psychological situations Also Stephen Crane, but he focused more on behavior in the midst of stress (ie, Red Badge of Courage)
Ironists Juxtaposing human pretensions (arrogance) with the indifference of the universe
Authors for Us: Frederick Douglass Kate Chopin Mark Twain Jack London