Literature of the Gilded Age 1865 - 1912 Realism & Naturalism Ambrose Bierce Stephen Crane

Realism Reaction to Romanticism Tied to social reform Emphasis on everyday experience Everyday people – common man Character over plot

Realists Mark Twain Henry James Willam Dean Howells The Rise of Silas Lapham Critic Leading proponent of realism

William Dean Howells Literature should be "simple, natural, and honest" "Our novelists, therefore, concern themselves with the more smiling aspects of life, which are the more American, and seek the universal in the individual rather than the social interests."

Naturalism A branch of realism Determinism Values come from desires Character’s behavior controlled by Environment Heredity Inner desires Outer forces

Naturalism Frank Norris Ambrose Bierce Stephen Crane Jack London McTeague Dentist’s social descent—driven by animal greed—ends in Death Valley Ambrose Bierce Cynicism about human nature Stephen Crane Jack London

”Episode of War” He bound his handkerchief over the wound, scolding away in the meantime. His tone allowed one to think that he was in the habit of being wounded every day. The lieutenant hung his head, feeling, in this presence, that he did not know how to be correctly wounded.

Red Badge of Courage As he listened to the din from the hillside, to a deep pulsating thunder that came from afar to the left, and to the lesser clamors which came from many directions, it occurred to him that they were fighting, too, over there, and over there, and over there. Heretofore he had supposed that all the battle was directly under his nose.

Red Badge of Courage As he gazed around him the youth felt a flash of astonishment at the blue, pure sky and the sun gleamings on the trees and fields. It was surprising that Nature had gone tranquilly on with her golden process in the midst of so much devilment.

Ambrose Bierce Born in Indiana 1841 Fought in Civil War Moved to California after war Journalist Divorced in 1905 Died 1914?

Ambrose Bierce Most important works Civil War stories – Of Soldiers & Civilians Devil’s Dictionary Style Cynical Compared to Twain & Poe

Devil’s Dictionary DISCUSSION, n. EULOGY, n. A method of confirming others in their errors. EULOGY, n. Praise of a person who has either the advantages of wealth and power, or the consideration to be dead.

Ambrose Bierce ALONE, adj. BIGOT, n. In bad company One who is obstinately and zealously attached to an opinion that you do not entertain.

EGOTIST, n. A person of low taste, more interested in himself than in me. IMMIGRANT, n. An unenlightened person who thinks one country better than another

Stephen Crane Born New Jersey 1871 College drop out Freelance journalist Traveled in US West, Cuba, Turkey, Europe Died in Germany 1900

Stephen Crane Realism Naturalism Social reform Poetry Often called an early Hemingway

Crane - works Maggie of the Streets (1893) Red Badge of Courage (1895) New standard in war literature The Black Riders (1895) (poems) ”The Open Boat” (1898) War Is Kind (1899) (poems)

Poetry A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation."

”Bride Comes to Yellow Sky” Look for… Naturalism History What does it remind you of? What motivates behavior? Reactions to new situations?

Jack London Born in SF (1876) worked many jobs (fisherman, sailor, laborer, gold hunter) Prolific writer Socialist Individualist Died in Oakland (1916)

Jack London Embodies contradictions of era Associated w/ Alaska & Pacific Call of the Wild Sea Wolf

Next Week Regionalism Horatio Alger Rags-to-Riches Read ”Uncle Remus” stories & E. A. Robinson poems