American Realism & Naturalism No More Romantic Sunshine & Rainbows…

Homework Read “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” (pg. 569) SAT (List 12) – Friday!

SAT Question Alvin is an exceedingly _________ person: he unselfishly ________ his friends without ever expecting anything in return. A. Opportunistic, supports B. Noble, undermines C. Bemused, aids D. Caustic, neglects E. Altruistic, assists

Origins/Influences Began during the Civil War & continued into the early 20th century Began during the Civil War & continued into the early 20th century Reaction to Romanticism & Transcendentalism: CONTRAST Reaction to Romanticism & Transcendentalism: CONTRAST

Social/Political Context Reaction to Civil War suffering Reaction to Civil War suffering Invention of photograph Invention of photograph – Captured true life Increased literacy & democracy = public hungry for truth & awareness Increased literacy & democracy = public hungry for truth & awareness Abolitionism & post-slavery stories Abolitionism & post-slavery stories – Dark side of America

Realism: Values/Beliefs Contrasts w/Romanticism & Transcendentalism Contrasts w/Romanticism & Transcendentalism Romantics transcend the immediate to find the ideal; Realists focus on the immediate, the here & now and its consequences Romantics transcend the immediate to find the ideal; Realists focus on the immediate, the here & now and its consequences Like Romantics, focus on common person & daily human experience & progressive, but stimulated change through telling a story that reveals truth & portrays ugliness & cruelty, not preaching (left readers to draw their own conclusions) Like Romantics, focus on common person & daily human experience & progressive, but stimulated change through telling a story that reveals truth & portrays ugliness & cruelty, not preaching (left readers to draw their own conclusions) Multiple views of life: all classes, races, genders Multiple views of life: all classes, races, genders – Particularly lower/middle classes – Reveal the ugliness & cruelty of life, but leave conclusions to the reader

Literary Conventions Characters are product of social factors Characters are product of social factors – Often poorly educated or lower class Renders reality closely & often in minute detail, even at the expense of plot Renders reality closely & often in minute detail, even at the expense of plot Settings usually familiar to the writer Settings usually familiar to the writer Character more important than plot Character more important than plot Plausible events, avoid overly dramatic elements Plausible events, avoid overly dramatic elements Usually uses the omniscient point of view Usually uses the omniscient point of view

Conventions Cont. Natural dialect, not heightened or poetic (like the Romantics) Natural dialect, not heightened or poetic (like the Romantics) – Written just as spoken Tone is comic, satiric, or matter-of-fact Tone is comic, satiric, or matter-of-fact Considers ordinary & uninteresting characters/events in order to extract full value & true meaning Considers ordinary & uninteresting characters/events in order to extract full value & true meaning – Simple stories far more complex than they appear

Regionalism & Psychological Realism Regionalism: focuses on small geographical area in attempt to reproduce speech & mannerisms Psychological Fiction: character perspective—as “real” as any reality…

Naturalism Branch of Realism Branch of Realism Philosophical position: scientific laws control life Philosophical position: scientific laws control life Heavily influenced by Darwinism Heavily influenced by Darwinism – Natural Selection – Survival of the Fittest Darker & more fatalistic (fatalistic = determined by fate, not choice) Darker & more fatalistic (fatalistic = determined by fate, not choice) – Nature NOT nurture…. Forces beyond a character’s control restrict attempts to exercise free will or choice Forces beyond a character’s control restrict attempts to exercise free will or choice More negative than Realism More negative than Realism

Famous Authors Realist: Mark Twain Mark Twain – Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Stephen Crane Stephen Crane – Red Badge of Courage Upton Sinclair Upton Sinclair – The Jungle Kate Chopin Kate Chopin – “Story of an Hour,” Desiree’s Baby, The Awakening Naturalist: Jack LondonJack London –Call of the Wild, “To Build a Fire” Stephen CraneStephen Crane –Maggie: Girl of the Street Henry JamesHenry James –Portrait of a Lady, Daisy Miller John SteinbeckJohn Steinbeck Of Mice & Men (debatable)Of Mice & Men (debatable)

Class Assignment Answer reading questions in your text book for “The Life of the Mississippi” #s