1. Realism
1860 (ish)-early 1900s

2. The Catalyst
The era’s origins lie in the increasing tension between the North and South
The Civil War prompted a shift in philosophy, literature, art, and politics…every aspect of American society.

3. Responses to the War Some responded with Idealism
Emerson: optimistic, full of patriotic fervor
had long warned that this would happen if slavery wasn’t abolished
Whitman: saw horrifying images but maintained optimism
Believed the war did reveal strength and heroism

4. Other Reactions Disillusionment
Herman Melville: war increased pessimism
Believed war revealed “humanity’s basic evil”

5. Images of War
Walt Whitman wrote of the appalling condition of medical services
Wounded on field for days
No anesthesia
Amputation and death

6. The War in Literature Many historical works
Letters, journals, diaries
Very little literature produced…why?
Few major writers saw the war first-hand
**traditional literary forms were inadequate to express the horrifying details
Realistic novel had not been developed in U.S.

7. 1st Realism novel about the war
The Red Badge of Courage
by Stephen Crane
He was born 6 yrs. after the war
Ironist: juxtapose human pretensions with indifference of the universe

8. The Rise of Realism Reaction against Romanticism
Romanticism did not capture real people and real circumstances
Realist writers aim at “a minute fidelity” to ordinary life
Wrote about slums, factories, corruption, cities rather than romantic settings

9. Goals of Realism Inspired by European writers
Attempted to portray extreme accuracy and detail
Focused on not just WHAT people do…but WHY
Psychology
Biology
Sociology

10. American Regionalism
Literature that emphasizes a specific geographic setting
Illustrates speech and customs of that region
Most famous American Regionalist
Mark Twain

11. Naturalism Dissect human behavior with as much objectivity as possible
Scientific approach
Human behavior is determined by forces beyond the individual’s power
***view life as a grim, losing battle
Human beings are subject to the natural laws of the universe
Fate over freewill

12. Psychological Fiction
Concentrated on distinctions in character motivation
Believed in freewill more than naturalists
Famous writers of psychological novels
Henry James
Stephen Crane