Realism Regionalism & Local Color

What is realism? Broadly defined, a literary technique devoted to "the faithful representation of reality" Broadly defined, a literary technique devoted to "the faithful representation of reality" A reaction against Romanticism A reaction against Romanticism Sparked by an interest in the scientific method Sparked by an interest in the scientific method

Realist writers … Endeavored to accurately represent contemporary culture and people from all walks of life Endeavored to accurately represent contemporary culture and people from all walks of life Addressed themes of socioeconomic conflict by contrasting the living conditions of the poor with those of the upper classes in urban as well as rural societies Addressed themes of socioeconomic conflict by contrasting the living conditions of the poor with those of the upper classes in urban as well as rural societies Sought to narrate their novels from an objective, unbiased perspective that simply and clearly represented the factual elements of the story Sought to narrate their novels from an objective, unbiased perspective that simply and clearly represented the factual elements of the story Became masters at psychological characterization, detailed descriptions of everyday life in realistic settings, and dialogue that captures the idioms of natural human speech Became masters at psychological characterization, detailed descriptions of everyday life in realistic settings, and dialogue that captures the idioms of natural human speech

Some Key Influences Rapid growth after the Civil War Rapid growth after the Civil War Increasing rates of democracy and literacy Increasing rates of democracy and literacy Rapid growth in industrialism and urbanization Rapid growth in industrialism and urbanization An expanding population base due to immigration An expanding population base due to immigration A relative rise in middle-class affluence A relative rise in middle-class affluence Interest in understanding these rapid shifts in culture Interest in understanding these rapid shifts in culture Concern about loss of personal identity Concern about loss of personal identity

Local Color/Regional Literature Local color or regional literature focuses on the characters, dialect, customs, topography, and other features particular to a specific region. Local color or regional literature focuses on the characters, dialect, customs, topography, and other features particular to a specific region. Between the Civil War and the end of the nineteenth century, this mode of writing became dominant in American literature. Between the Civil War and the end of the nineteenth century, this mode of writing became dominant in American literature.

Regional Literature AKA Local Color Regional literature incorporates the broader concept of sectional differences within a locale. Regional literature incorporates the broader concept of sectional differences within a locale. For example, in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain makes use of seven distinct dialects to represent the differences of various groups living in the region. For example, in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain makes use of seven distinct dialects to represent the differences of various groups living in the region.

Impacts Contributed to the reunification of the country after the Civil War Contributed to the reunification of the country after the Civil War Helped build a national identity Helped build a national identity Contributed to the narrative of unified nationhood that late nineteenth- century America sought to construct Contributed to the narrative of unified nationhood that late nineteenth- century America sought to construct

Shared Characteristics in Local Color & Regional Literature Setting Setting Characters Characters Narrator Narrator Plots Plots Themes Themes

Setting The setting is integral to the story and may sometimes become a character in itself. The setting is integral to the story and may sometimes become a character in itself.

Characters Local color stories tend to be concerned with the character of the district or region rather than with the individual: characters may become character types, sometimes quaint or stereotypical. Local color stories tend to be concerned with the character of the district or region rather than with the individual: characters may become character types, sometimes quaint or stereotypical. The characters are marked by their adherence to the old ways, by dialect, and by particular personality traits central to the region. The characters are marked by their adherence to the old ways, by dialect, and by particular personality traits central to the region.

Narrator The narrator is typically an educated observer from the world beyond who learns something from the characters while preserving a sometimes sympathetic, sometimes ironic distance from them. The narrator is typically an educated observer from the world beyond who learns something from the characters while preserving a sometimes sympathetic, sometimes ironic distance from them. The narrator serves as mediator between the rural folk of the tale and the urban audience to whom the tale is directed. The narrator serves as mediator between the rural folk of the tale and the urban audience to whom the tale is directed.

Plots It has been said that "nothing happens" in local color stories and often very little does happen. It has been said that "nothing happens" in local color stories and often very little does happen. Stories may include lots of storytelling and revolve around the community and its rituals. Stories may include lots of storytelling and revolve around the community and its rituals.

Themes Many local color stories share an antipathy to change and a nostalgia for an always-past golden age. Thematic tension or conflict between urban ways and old-fashioned rural values is often symbolized by the intrusion of an outsider or interloper who seeks something from the community. Many local color stories share an antipathy to change and a nostalgia for an always-past golden age. Thematic tension or conflict between urban ways and old-fashioned rural values is often symbolized by the intrusion of an outsider or interloper who seeks something from the community.

Shared Techniques Use of dialect to establish credibility and authenticity of regional characters. Use of dialect to establish credibility and authenticity of regional characters. Use of detailed description, especially of small, seemingly insignificant details central to an understanding of the region. Use of detailed description, especially of small, seemingly insignificant details central to an understanding of the region. Frequent use of a frame story in which the narrator hears some tale of the region. Frequent use of a frame story in which the narrator hears some tale of the region.

Samuel Langhorne Clemens ( ) Samuel Langhorne Clemens, aka. Mark Twain, was a natural-born storyteller who was the first writer to recognize that art could be created out of the American language. Samuel Langhorne Clemens, aka. Mark Twain, was a natural-born storyteller who was the first writer to recognize that art could be created out of the American language. Through his use of carefully chosen words and his sharply honed humor, he dealt head-on with controversial issues that others were afraid to confront. Through his use of carefully chosen words and his sharply honed humor, he dealt head-on with controversial issues that others were afraid to confront.

Mark Twain’s Writing Advice “Whatever you have lived, you can write – & by hard work & a genuine apprenticeship, you can learn to write well; but what you have not lived you cannot write, you can only pretend to write it...” “Whatever you have lived, you can write – & by hard work & a genuine apprenticeship, you can learn to write well; but what you have not lived you cannot write, you can only pretend to write it...”

“An Enormous Noticer” Mark Twain is described as “an enormous noticer.” Much of what he noticed as a boy growing up in the small Mississippi River town of Hannibal, Missouri, found its way into his writings in books such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain is described as “an enormous noticer.” Much of what he noticed as a boy growing up in the small Mississippi River town of Hannibal, Missouri, found its way into his writings in books such as The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. He was always noticing whether people had their hands in their pockets or not, how they dressed, walked, spoke or presented themselves to others. He was always noticing whether people had their hands in their pockets or not, how they dressed, walked, spoke or presented themselves to others.

Twain’s First Success "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" (1865) was Twain’s first great success as a writer, bringing him national attention. "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" (1865) was Twain’s first great success as a writer, bringing him national attention. In it, the narrator retells a story he heard from a bartender at the Angels Hotel in Angels Camp, California, about the gambler Jim Smiley and his “celebrated jumping frog”. In it, the narrator retells a story he heard from a bartender at the Angels Hotel in Angels Camp, California, about the gambler Jim Smiley and his “celebrated jumping frog”.

How he got started … Twain began his career as a journalist, travel writer, and writer of light, humorous verse. Twain began his career as a journalist, travel writer, and writer of light, humorous verse. He evolved into a chronicler of the vanities, hypocrisies. and murderous acts of mankind, making frequent use of satire. He evolved into a chronicler of the vanities, hypocrisies. and murderous acts of mankind, making frequent use of satire. At mid-career, with Huckleberry Finn, he combined rich humor, sturdy narrative and social criticism. At mid-career, with Huckleberry Finn, he combined rich humor, sturdy narrative and social criticism.

What is satire? A literary genre or form in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement. A literary genre or form in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement. Although satire is usually meant to be funny, its greater purpose is often constructive social criticism, using wit as a weapon. Although satire is usually meant to be funny, its greater purpose is often constructive social criticism, using wit as a weapon. A common feature of satire is strong irony or sarcasm; it also makes frequent use of parody, burlesque, analogy, exaggeration, juxtaposition, and double entendre. A common feature of satire is strong irony or sarcasm; it also makes frequent use of parody, burlesque, analogy, exaggeration, juxtaposition, and double entendre. Modern Examples: Animal Farm; Fahrenheit 451; Lord of the Flies; Saturday Night Live, John Stewart; Stephen Colbert; The Simpsons; South Park Modern Examples: Animal Farm; Fahrenheit 451; Lord of the Flies; Saturday Night Live, John Stewart; Stephen Colbert; The Simpsons; South Park

Most Famous Books The Innocents Abroad The Innocents Abroad Roughing It Roughing It The Adventures of Tom Sawyer The Adventures of Tom Sawyer The Prince and the Pauper The Prince and the Pauper Life on the Mississippi Life on the Mississippi The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court The Tragedy of Pudd’nhead Wilson The Tragedy of Pudd’nhead Wilson A Burlesque Autobiography A Burlesque Autobiography

Twain’s Use of Dialect Twain was a master at rendering colloquial speech and helped to create and popularize a distinctive American literature built on American themes and language. Twain was a master at rendering colloquial speech and helped to create and popularize a distinctive American literature built on American themes and language. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain uses seven different dialects and even provides an explanation for doing so … In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain uses seven different dialects and even provides an explanation for doing so …

Twain’s “EXPLANATORY” “IN this book a number of dialects are used, to wit: the Missouri negro dialect; the extremest form of the backwoods Southwestern dialect; the ordinary "Pike County" dialect; and four modified varieties of this last. The shadings have not been done in a haphazard fashion, or by guesswork; but painstakingly, and with the trustworthy guidance and support of personal familiarity with these several forms of speech. I make this explanation for the reason that without it many readers would suppose that all these characters were trying to talk alike and not succeeding.”

Missouri Negro: Jim “Goodness gracious, is dat you, Huck? En you ain’ dead-you ain’t drownded-you’s back ag’in? It’s too good for true, honey, it’s too good for true. Lemme look at you chile, lemme feel o’ you. No, you ain’ dead! you’s back ag’in, ‘live en soun’, jis de same ole Huck-de same ole Huck, thanks to goodness!”

Huck as Narrator The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was a breakthrough in American literature for its presentation of Huck Finn, an adolescent boy who tells the story in his own language. The novel was one of the first in America to employ the child's perspective and employ the vernacular — a language specific to a region or group of people—throughout the book. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was a breakthrough in American literature for its presentation of Huck Finn, an adolescent boy who tells the story in his own language. The novel was one of the first in America to employ the child's perspective and employ the vernacular — a language specific to a region or group of people—throughout the book.

Unique Perspective Huck's unique perspective is that of a lower-class, southern white child, who has been viewed as an outcast by society. Huck's unique perspective is that of a lower-class, southern white child, who has been viewed as an outcast by society. From this position, Huck narrates the story of his encounters with various southern types, sometimes revealing his naivete and, at other times, his acute ability to see through the hypocrisy of his elders. From this position, Huck narrates the story of his encounters with various southern types, sometimes revealing his naivete and, at other times, his acute ability to see through the hypocrisy of his elders.

On Race … “ I have no race prejudices, and I think I have no color prejudices nor caste prejudices nor creed prejudices. Indeed I know it... All that I care to know is that a man is a human being – that is enough for me.” – Mark Twain

Early Experiences Black people and black voices were part of Twain’s life from the beginning. Every summer as a child Sam spent several weeks on his uncle’s farm, where an old slave called “Uncle Daniel” thrilled the youngsters with ghost stories. Black people and black voices were part of Twain’s life from the beginning. Every summer as a child Sam spent several weeks on his uncle’s farm, where an old slave called “Uncle Daniel” thrilled the youngsters with ghost stories. One of his most lasting childhood memories was not so pleasant. It was of a dozen men and women, chained together, waiting to be shipped down-river to the slave market. “They had,” he said, “the saddest faces I ever saw.” One of his most lasting childhood memories was not so pleasant. It was of a dozen men and women, chained together, waiting to be shipped down-river to the slave market. “They had,” he said, “the saddest faces I ever saw.”

Controversy/Book Banning The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, first published in 1884, was controversial from the start. In 1885, Concord Public Library banned the book. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, first published in 1884, was controversial from the start. In 1885, Concord Public Library banned the book. Mark Twain wrote to Charles Webster on March 18, 1885: "The Committee of the Public Library of Concord, Mass., have given us a rattling tip-top puff which will go into every paper in the country. They have expelled Huck from their library as 'trash and suitable only for the slums.' That will sell 25,000 copies for us sure." Mark Twain wrote to Charles Webster on March 18, 1885: "The Committee of the Public Library of Concord, Mass., have given us a rattling tip-top puff which will go into every paper in the country. They have expelled Huck from their library as 'trash and suitable only for the slums.' That will sell 25,000 copies for us sure."

In 1902, the Brooklyn Public Library banned The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn with the statement that "Huck not only itched but he scratched," and that he said "sweat" when he should have said "perspiration." In 1902, the Brooklyn Public Library banned The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn with the statement that "Huck not only itched but he scratched," and that he said "sweat" when he should have said "perspiration."

Modern Day Issues In general, the debate over Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has centered around the language of the book, which has been objected to on social grounds, specifically for its repeated use of the “N” word, which was in common usage in the pre-Civil War period in which the novel was set. In general, the debate over Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has centered around the language of the book, which has been objected to on social grounds, specifically for its repeated use of the “N” word, which was in common usage in the pre-Civil War period in which the novel was set. Yielding to public pressure, some textbook publishers have substituted "slave" or "servant" for the term that Mark Twain uses in the book, which has been considered derogatory to African Americans. Yielding to public pressure, some textbook publishers have substituted "slave" or "servant" for the term that Mark Twain uses in the book, which has been considered derogatory to African Americans.

The “N” Word Comes from the Latin adjective meaning “black” (niger) and the Spanish/Portuguese word for black (negro) Comes from the Latin adjective meaning “black” (niger) and the Spanish/Portuguese word for black (negro) “Used rightly or wrongly, ironically or seriously, of necessity for the sake of realism, or impishly for the sake of comedy, it doesn't matter. Negroes do not like it in any book or play whatsoever, be the book or play ever so sympathetic in its treatment of the basic problems of the race. Even though the book or play is written by a Negro, they still do not like it. The word nigger, you see, sums up for us who are colored all the bitter years of insult and struggle in America.” “Used rightly or wrongly, ironically or seriously, of necessity for the sake of realism, or impishly for the sake of comedy, it doesn't matter. Negroes do not like it in any book or play whatsoever, be the book or play ever so sympathetic in its treatment of the basic problems of the race. Even though the book or play is written by a Negro, they still do not like it. The word nigger, you see, sums up for us who are colored all the bitter years of insult and struggle in America.” - Langston Hughes

Others see it as the greatest and most important American novel … "All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn." - Ernest Hemingway, Green Hills of Africa

What happened at the end of Tom Sawyer? Huck is considered “white trash,” but he is NOT poor. At the end of Tom Sawyer, Tom and Huck find $12,000 and are allowed to keep it. They split is 50/50. Therefore, Huck is actually close to a millionaire (for the time period)! However, the society still looks down on him as common “trash” because of his behavior and uneducated ways. Huck is considered “white trash,” but he is NOT poor. At the end of Tom Sawyer, Tom and Huck find $12,000 and are allowed to keep it. They split is 50/50. Therefore, Huck is actually close to a millionaire (for the time period)! However, the society still looks down on him as common “trash” because of his behavior and uneducated ways.