English I – Mrs. Jeffries American Literature: Realism ~1910

American Literature  Origin myths  Narratives (chronicles)of American Experience  Religious writings that display Puritan values _________________  Pamphlets  Brochures  Political pieces __________________  Short stories  Poetry  esssays The Colonial Period Beginnings Native American Lit. European Lit. Puritan Lit. The Revolutionary Period (The Age of Reason /The Enlightenment) The Romantic Period Romantic Literature Gothic Lit Transcendental Lit

Realism ’s Romanticism “Anything is possible” REALISM “Tell it like it is” Reaction to Romanticism with its... Heroic characters Strange, unfamiliar settings REALISM is … Truthful Objective Describes... Ordinary people Ordinary Situations

Realism Literary period in which writers focused on the faithful representation of reality.

America … Post Civil War ( ) Rapid growth in Literacy Industrialization Urbanization Expanding population due to immigration Rise in Middle Class

Characteristics of REALISM Relations between people and society are explored Purpose of writing was to instruct and entertain Language is not heightened or poetic No allegory or symbolism everything was clearly communicated Depended on the use of images Objectivity in the presentation is important

Literary Elements Plot Drew on the grim realities of everyday life The middle class and the urban poor Complex ethical choices Events are plausible Avoided sensational or dramatic elements Setting Close to reality Comprehensive detail Characters More important than action or plot Have an important ethical decision to make Class is important Usually middle class or poor Characters spoke in regional dialect and/or diction Tone Comic, satiric or matter-of- fact