1. The Rise of Realism The Civil War and Postwar Period

2. The End of Idealism
The outbreak of the Civil War brought an end to the idealism and transcendentalism of the pre-war period
Emerson felt the Civil War would bring an end to the evil of slavery
Most Americans thought the Civil War would only last a few months

3. The End of Idealism
The first Battle of Bull Run, the first major Civil War battle, established the war as bloody and vicious
Whitman viewed first hand the horror of war by working with the many maimed and wounded

4. Literature and the Civil War
Despite the national magnitude of the Civil War, it inspired almost no great literature
Few famous writers had first hand knowledge of the war
Most famous writers of the day were far removed from the war philosophically
The greatest Civil War novel was The Red Badge of Courage, written by Stephen Crane years after the war was over

5. Realism The post Civil War period saw the exploitation of the South
Impoverished, uneducated freed slaves migrated to northern cities
An industrial revolution was spawned by the Civil War
Poverty and slums grew around urban industry

6. Realism
Realists were a new breed of writers who attempted to capture the minute details of the common course of ordinary lives
Realists explored why ordinary people lived they way they did
Realism was anti-Romantic by its very definition

7. The Characteristics of Realism
Portrayed common, ordinary people and situations
Set in the present, not the past
Examined the more difficult, tragic aspects of life
Used highly descriptive, detail-focused writing to create a word photograph
Addressed subject matter normally avoided by the Romantics

8. Regionalism Emphasized a specific geographic setting
Emphasized the speech, manners, and customs of a particular region
Often realistic, but more often leaned toward the sentimental and romantic
Gave birth to realism

9. Naturalism Had its roots in European literature and philosophy
Influenced by new scientific theories on psychology and sociology
Viewed human behavior as an experiment to be studied and dissected
Believed that human life was a grim, losing battle

10. The Characteristics of Naturalism
Humans are a product of their biological make-up and environment
Humans have little, or no free will
There is no God
Powerful, outside forces control each human’s fate
Emphasis on the coarse, sordid, ugly side of humanity

11. Kate Chopin A woman ahead of her times
Born in St. Louis – independent thinker
Awakening, her most famous novel, was banned

12. Frederick Douglass Born into slavery Escaped slavery in his 20’s
Self educated
Wrote and gave speeches
Became internationally famous

13. Ambrose Bierce
Recognized for bravery in the Civil War more than 15 times
Wrote for San Francisco newspapers after the war
Became renowned for his cynical writing
Master of Magic Realism

14. STEPHEN CRANE

15. SAMUEL CLEMENS
AKA – MARK TWAIN

16. Jack London Very adventurous youth and teen years Self educated Amoral
Passionate socialist
Internationally famous adventure writer