1. Realism Regionalism & Local Color 1865-1920

2. 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, the systematizing of the study of documentary history, and the influence of rational philosophy Sparked by an interest in the scientific method, the systematizing of the study of documentary history, and the influence of rational philosophy

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. Local Color According to the Oxford Companion to American Literature, "In local-color literature one finds the dual influence of romanticism and realism, since the author frequently looks away from ordinary life to distant lands, strange customs, or exotic scenes, but retains through minute detail a sense of fidelity and accuracy of description" (439). According to the Oxford Companion to American Literature, "In local-color literature one finds the dual influence of romanticism and realism, since the author frequently looks away from ordinary life to distant lands, strange customs, or exotic scenes, but retains through minute detail a sense of fidelity and accuracy of description" (439).

7. Regional Literature 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.

8. 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

9. Regionalism in Art Regionalism is a realist modern American art movement wherein artists shunned the city and rapidly developing technological advances to focus on scenes of rural life. Regionalism is a realist modern American art movement wherein artists shunned the city and rapidly developing technological advances to focus on scenes of rural life. Regionalist style was at its height from 1930 to 1935. Regionalist style was at its height from 1930 to 1935. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, Regionalist art was widely appreciated for its reassuring images of the American heartland. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, Regionalist art was widely appreciated for its reassuring images of the American heartland.

10. “We introduced America to Americans." --Roy Stryker, Regionalist Photographer

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

12. Setting The emphasis is frequently on nature and the limitations it imposes; settings are frequently remote and inaccessible. The setting is integral to the story and may sometimes become a character in itself. The emphasis is frequently on nature and the limitations it imposes; settings are frequently remote and inaccessible. The setting is integral to the story and may sometimes become a character in itself.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. Plots It has been said that "nothing happens" in local color stories by women authors, and often very little does happen. It has been said that "nothing happens" in local color stories by women authors, 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. Famous Practitioners … Mark Twain Mark Twain Bret Harte Bret Harte Hamlin Garland Hamlin Garland Joel Chandler Harris Joel Chandler Harris William Faulkner William Faulkner William Styron William Styron Robert Frost Robert Frost Sinclair Lewis Sinclair Lewis Henry James Henry James John Steinbeck John Steinbeck Dashiell Hammett Dashiell Hammett Kate Chopin Kate Chopin Harriet Beecher Stowe Harriet Beecher Stowe Eudora Welty Eudora Welty Sarah Orne Jewett Sarah Orne Jewett Willa Cather Willa Cather Harper Lee Harper Lee

19. Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835-1910) 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.

20. “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.

21. Consider this passage from the first chapter of Tom Sawyer, for example: “A stranger was before him – boy a shade larger than himself... This boy was well-dressed, too well- dressed on a week-day. This was simply astounding. His cap was a dainty thing, his close- buttoned blue cloth roundabout was new and natty, and so were his pantaloons. He had shoes on–and it was only Friday. He even wore a necktie, a bright bit of ribbon. He had a citified air about him that ate into Tom’s vitals.” “A stranger was before him – boy a shade larger than himself... This boy was well-dressed, too well- dressed on a week-day. This was simply astounding. His cap was a dainty thing, his close- buttoned blue cloth roundabout was new and natty, and so were his pantaloons. He had shoes on–and it was only Friday. He even wore a necktie, a bright bit of ribbon. He had a citified air about him that ate into Tom’s vitals.”

22. 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”.