American Realism s (Civil War to the turn of the century)

Flap One: “Historical Context”  During this era America undergoes enormous changes in population, territory, industry, and society.  In addition to the bloody Civil War that threatens to divide the nation, the American Industrial Revolution helps cities become true urban centers.  Most writers/poets don’t experience the war firsthand, but write extensively about it.  The harsh realities of the new age force artists to re- evaluate their themes, choosing realistic depictions in favor of the fictions of romanticism  During this era America undergoes enormous changes in population, territory, industry, and society.  In addition to the bloody Civil War that threatens to divide the nation, the American Industrial Revolution helps cities become true urban centers.  Most writers/poets don’t experience the war firsthand, but write extensively about it.  The harsh realities of the new age force artists to re- evaluate their themes, choosing realistic depictions in favor of the fictions of romanticism

Flap Two: “Characteristics” Realists found inspiration in everyday life. This includes the unfavorable conditions of urban life such as slums, prostitution, and crime. For the first time these negative subjects become the focus of written work. Characterization is favored above plot and action All aspects of character are intricately described, including speech patterns and local dialect. This was called Regionalism. Fatalistic in theme

Conflict Internal Man vs. Himself External Man Vs. Others Man vs. Nature

Flap Three: “Authors and their work”  Mark Twain (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn)  Jack London (The Call of the Wild, White Fang)  Ambrose Bierce (“Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”)  William Dean Howells (editor of The Atlantic Monthly)  Henry James (The Turn of the Screw)  Mark Twain (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn)  Jack London (The Call of the Wild, White Fang)  Ambrose Bierce (“Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”)  William Dean Howells (editor of The Atlantic Monthly)  Henry James (The Turn of the Screw)

Flap four: “Subsets of Realism” Regionalism- sight dialect and geographical speech patterns are carefully crafted (Huck Finn) Naturalism- the universe and natural world is cold and uncaring compared against individual need (London’s work) Psychological novels- the growing study of personality and psychology contributes to work that examines a character’s motivations more than their actions (Henry James’s novels)

Naturalism Influenced by Darwin, believed things like heredity, chance and environment determined people’s fate. Also known as biological or social determinism. They depicted characters whose lives were shaped by forces of society or nature over which they have no control.