American RealismAmerican Realism

No More Romantic Sunshine & Rainbows…No More Romantic Sunshine & Rainbows…

Origins/InfluencesOrigins/Influences• 1850/60-1890/19101850/60-1890/1910• Began during the Civil War & continued into Began during the Civil War & continued into

the early 20th centurythe early 20th century• Reaction to the idealism of Romanticism & Reaction to the idealism of Romanticism &

Transcendentalism: CONTRAST (Civil War Transcendentalism: CONTRAST (Civil War between Romantics & Realists)between Romantics & Realists)

• Fertile literary environmentFertile literary environment– Rising middle class & literacy ratesRising middle class & literacy rates

Social/Political ContextSocial/Political Context• Reaction to Civil War suffering (couldn’t romanticize war anymore Reaction to Civil War suffering (couldn’t romanticize war anymore

once saw it on their own soil & the mass destruction, poverty, & once saw it on their own soil & the mass destruction, poverty, & death it caused – women forced out of traditional roles & soldiers death it caused – women forced out of traditional roles & soldiers no longer praised as heroes) no longer praised as heroes)

• Invention of photographInvention of photograph– Captured true lifeCaptured true life

• Increased literacy & democracy (& rise in middle class affluence)= Increased literacy & democracy (& rise in middle class affluence)= public hungry for truth & awarenesspublic hungry for truth & awareness

• Abolitionism & post-slavery storiesAbolitionism & post-slavery stories– Dark side of AmericaDark side of America

• Origins of Muckraking journalismOrigins of Muckraking journalism– Expose corruption, particularly political & corporate (continues Expose corruption, particularly political & corporate (continues

today…)today…)– Literature affected: tried to do the sameLiterature affected: tried to do the same

Realism: Values/BeliefsRealism: Values/Beliefs• Contrasts w/Romanticism & TranscendentalismContrasts w/Romanticism & Transcendentalism• Nature is no longer a source of spiritual truth & inspiration but a force Nature is no longer a source of spiritual truth & inspiration but a force

that is beyond human controlthat is beyond human control• Describes life w/out Romantic subjectivity & idealism; more Describes life w/out Romantic subjectivity & idealism; more

pessimistic /skeptical & reflective of the harshness & ironic humor of pessimistic /skeptical & reflective of the harshness & ironic humor of life; represents the common, the average, the non-extreme, the life; represents the common, the average, the non-extreme, the representative, the probable representative, the probable

• Whereas Romantics Whereas Romantics transcendtranscend the immediate to find the ideal, Realists the immediate to find the ideal, Realists focus on the immediate, the here & now (known as descendental) focus on the immediate, the here & now (known as descendental)

• Focuses on specific actions and their consequences Focuses on specific actions and their consequences • Present life as it Present life as it isis, not as it , not as it mightmight be; describes life without be; describes life without

idealization/romantic subjectivity while adding criticisms about it to idealization/romantic subjectivity while adding criticisms about it to stimulate changestimulate change

• Concerned with the commonplace of everyday lifeConcerned with the commonplace of everyday life- particularly among the middle & lower classes, where character is a - particularly among the middle & lower classes, where character is a product of social & environmental factorsproduct of social & environmental factors

• experimental.experimental.• Purpose of writing: to instruct & entertainPurpose of writing: to instruct & entertain

Values/Beliefs, Cont.Values/Beliefs, Cont.• Multiple views of life: all classes, races, genders, manners (realistic Multiple views of life: all classes, races, genders, manners (realistic

complexity = interwove, complex experience, multiplicty=different complexity = interwove, complex experience, multiplicty=different levels of reality or many truths that are equally true from some point of levels of reality or many truths that are equally true from some point of view)view)– Particularly lower/middle classesParticularly lower/middle classes– Highlight class stratification/inequityHighlight class stratification/inequity– Reveal the ugliness & cruelty of life, but leave conclusions to the Reveal the ugliness & cruelty of life, but leave conclusions to the

readerreader• Like Romantics, still focuses on common person & daily human Like Romantics, still focuses on common person & daily human

experience & progressive, but stimulated change through telling a story experience & progressive, but stimulated change through telling a story that reveals truth & portrays ugliness & cruelty, not preaching or that reveals truth & portrays ugliness & cruelty, not preaching or emphasizing author’s comments (left readers to draw their own emphasizing author’s comments (left readers to draw their own conclusions)conclusions)

• Viewed as a realization of democracyViewed as a realization of democracy• Morality is intrinsic, integral, relativistic and morality is often self-Morality is intrinsic, integral, relativistic and morality is often self-

realized upon examining idealism; explores relations between people & realized upon examining idealism; explores relations between people & society; responsible morality – a world truly reportedsociety; responsible morality – a world truly reported

• Realists were pragmatic, relativistic, democraticRealists were pragmatic, relativistic, democratic

Literary ConventionsLiterary Conventions• Less use of symbolism with more focus on describing reality in simple detail Less use of symbolism with more focus on describing reality in simple detail

using images; symbolism is often controlled & limitedusing images; symbolism is often controlled & limited• Emphasis on scenic presentationEmphasis on scenic presentation• Settings usually familiar to the writerSettings usually familiar to the writer• Usually uses the omniscient point of viewUsually uses the omniscient point of view• Complex ethical choices are often the subjectComplex ethical choices are often the subject• Class is important Class is important • Characters product of social & environmental factorsCharacters product of social & environmental factors

– Often poorly educated or lower class whose lives are governed by forces Often poorly educated or lower class whose lives are governed by forces of heredity, instinct, & passion. Forces beyond their control restrict their of heredity, instinct, & passion. Forces beyond their control restrict their attempts at exercising free will/choice.attempts at exercising free will/choice.

• Renders reality closely & often in minute detail, even at the expense of plotRenders reality closely & often in minute detail, even at the expense of plot• Character more important than plot; characters appear in their real Character more important than plot; characters appear in their real

complexity of temperament & motive & are inexplicable in relation to complexity of temperament & motive & are inexplicable in relation to nature, each other, their social class, & their past (characters are related to nature, each other, their social class, & their past (characters are related to nature/each other/their social class/their past)nature/each other/their social class/their past)

Conventions, Cont.Conventions, Cont.• Characters & events often seem ordinary & uninteresting in order to extract Characters & events often seem ordinary & uninteresting in order to extract

their full value & meaning; ordinary characters studied in depththeir full value & meaning; ordinary characters studied in depth• Humans control their destinies; characters often act on their environment Humans control their destinies; characters often act on their environment

instead of simply reacting to itinstead of simply reacting to it• Plausible events that avoid sensational, overly dramatic elementsPlausible events that avoid sensational, overly dramatic elements

– However, do explore psychological journey as form of subjective reality, but However, do explore psychological journey as form of subjective reality, but in a negative way…in a negative way…

• Natural vernacular (writing that reflects the sounds & uses of spoken language of Natural vernacular (writing that reflects the sounds & uses of spoken language of a region)/speech, not the heightened or poetic language of the Romanticsa region)/speech, not the heightened or poetic language of the Romantics– Written just as spokenWritten just as spoken

• Tone is comic, satiric (satire=a literary work that holds up human vices & follies Tone is comic, satiric (satire=a literary work that holds up human vices & follies to scorn), pessimistic, skeptical, or matter-of-factto scorn), pessimistic, skeptical, or matter-of-fact

• Irony: some juxtapose human pretensions with the indifference of the universeIrony: some juxtapose human pretensions with the indifference of the universe• ObjectivityObjectivity• Considers seemingly ordinary & uninteresting characters/events in order to Considers seemingly ordinary & uninteresting characters/events in order to

extract full value & true meaningextract full value & true meaning– Simple stories far more complex than they appearSimple stories far more complex than they appear

• Realistically conveyed sexuality, both its dark and light sides….Realistically conveyed sexuality, both its dark and light sides….

NaturalismNaturalism• Branch of Realism (a bit more negative than Realism, perhaps…)Branch of Realism (a bit more negative than Realism, perhaps…)• Philosophical position: scientific laws control lifePhilosophical position: scientific laws control life• Heavily influenced by Darwinism: social Darwinism (can’t escape Heavily influenced by Darwinism: social Darwinism (can’t escape

heredity & class; war destroys heredity, as even the wealthy aren’t heredity & class; war destroys heredity, as even the wealthy aren’t protected & die on the battlefield; kill or be killed; animal instincts of protected & die on the battlefield; kill or be killed; animal instincts of survival; greed & reconstruction)survival; greed & reconstruction)– Natural SelectionNatural Selection– Survival of the FittestSurvival of the Fittest

• Portrays nature as an independent, uncaring force that governs the lives Portrays nature as an independent, uncaring force that governs the lives of humans & man’s struggle for survival/futile attempts of people to of humans & man’s struggle for survival/futile attempts of people to exercise free willexercise free will

• Darker & more deterministic/fatalistic (fatalistic = determined by fate, Darker & more deterministic/fatalistic (fatalistic = determined by fate, not not choice)choice)

Naturalism, Cont.Naturalism, Cont.• Lives governed by heredity, environment, instinct, & passionLives governed by heredity, environment, instinct, & passion

– Nature NOT nurture….Nature NOT nurture….• Usually focuses on poorly educated and/or lower classUsually focuses on poorly educated and/or lower class• Usually takes place in citiesUsually takes place in cities• Depict cycles of despairDepict cycles of despair• Forces beyond a character’s control restrict attempts to exercise Forces beyond a character’s control restrict attempts to exercise

free will or choicefree will or choice• Uses details Uses details • Themes: survival, determination, violence, tabooThemes: survival, determination, violence, taboo• Conflicts: man vs. nature, man vs. self, (usually, a character must Conflicts: man vs. nature, man vs. self, (usually, a character must

fight against external temptations or pleasures that may release fight against external temptations or pleasures that may release the “brute within”)the “brute within”)

Regionalism• A branch of RealismA branch of Realism• Literature that is regularly set in & focused on a particular region (specific to a Literature that is regularly set in & focused on a particular region (specific to a

geographical area) – its customs, dialects (to establish authenticity), customs, & geographical area) – its customs, dialects (to establish authenticity), customs, & geography (emphasizes sectional differences)geography (emphasizes sectional differences)

• Minute detail (detailed & accurate descriptions)Minute detail (detailed & accurate descriptions)• Some influence of Romanticism: looks to the exotic, can be Some influence of Romanticism: looks to the exotic, can be

nostalgic/sentimentalnostalgic/sentimental• Usually definitive of groups/minorities without powerUsually definitive of groups/minorities without power• Local color (sub-movement): 1865-1880, America wanted to know what their Local color (sub-movement): 1865-1880, America wanted to know what their

country looked like and how the various races lived and talked during the age of country looked like and how the various races lived and talked during the age of first mappings (Local Color provided a literary map of America), surveyings of the first mappings (Local Color provided a literary map of America), surveyings of the West, and the transcontinental railroad that stretched east and westWest, and the transcontinental railroad that stretched east and west

• Protective of/attached to a certain space/area; protective of own Protective of/attached to a certain space/area; protective of own culture/identity/tradition/historyculture/identity/tradition/history

• Civil War divided North & SouthCivil War divided North & South• Influenced by Southwestern humorInfluenced by Southwestern humor• Color symbolismColor symbolism• Is believed by some to have unified the nation after the Civil War & contributed Is believed by some to have unified the nation after the Civil War & contributed

to late 19to late 19thth century ideas of national identity century ideas of national identity

Regionalism, Cont.Regionalism, Cont.• Setting: frequently in nature, remote & inaccessible (setting important)Setting: frequently in nature, remote & inaccessible (setting important)• Stereotypical/quaint character types of a region, usually marked by their Stereotypical/quaint character types of a region, usually marked by their

adherence to tradition, regional personality traits, & dialect adherence to tradition, regional personality traits, & dialect • Female heroines are usually unmarried women or young girlsFemale heroines are usually unmarried women or young girls• Narrator is usually an educated observer from elsewhere who learns Narrator is usually an educated observer from elsewhere who learns

something from the characters while preserving a sometimes something from the characters while preserving a sometimes sympathetic, often ironic distance. Narrator serves as a mediator sympathetic, often ironic distance. Narrator serves as a mediator between the country folk and the urban audience. Speaker often tells of between the country folk and the urban audience. Speaker often tells of some tale he/she has heard from/about some region.some tale he/she has heard from/about some region.

• Plot is not as important; revolves around the community & its ritualsPlot is not as important; revolves around the community & its rituals• Themes: antipathy to change, nostalgia for past golden age, celebration Themes: antipathy to change, nostalgia for past golden age, celebration

of community, acceptance in the face of diversityof community, acceptance in the face of diversity• Conflicts: urban vs. old fashioned rural values (an outsider intrudes, Conflicts: urban vs. old fashioned rural values (an outsider intrudes,

seeking something from the community)seeking something from the community)

Psychological RealismPsychological Realism

• Branch of RealismBranch of Realism• Character motivationCharacter motivation• Complex social & psychological situationsComplex social & psychological situations• Human character/behavior at moments of Human character/behavior at moments of

stress/under pressurestress/under pressure

Famous AuthorsFamous AuthorsRealist:Realist:• Mark TwainMark Twain

– Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, “The War Prayer”“The War Prayer”• Stephen CraneStephen Crane

– Red Badge of Courage, “The Open Boat,” “A Mystery of Heroism”Red Badge of Courage, “The Open Boat,” “A Mystery of Heroism”• Upton SinclairUpton Sinclair

– The JungleThe Jungle• William Dean HowellsWilliam Dean Howells• Ambrose BierceAmbrose Bierce

- “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”- “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”• Frederick DouglassFrederick Douglass

- “The Battle with Mr. Covey” from - “The Battle with Mr. Covey” from The Narrative of the Life of Frederick The Narrative of the Life of Frederick DouglassDouglass

• Bret HarteBret Harte• Rebecca Harding DavisRebecca Harding Davis• Kate ChopinKate Chopin

– ““Story of an Hour,” “Desiree’s Baby,” “A Pair of Silk Stockings,” Story of an Hour,” “Desiree’s Baby,” “A Pair of Silk Stockings,” The The AwakeningAwakening

Famous Authors, Cont.Famous Authors, Cont.• Naturalist:Naturalist:• Frank NorrisFrank Norris• Jack London Jack London – Call of the WildCall of the Wild, “To Build a Fire”, “To Build a Fire”

• Stephen CraneStephen Crane– Maggie: Girl of the StreetMaggie: Girl of the Street

• Henry JamesHenry James– Portrait of a Lady, Daisy MillerPortrait of a Lady, Daisy Miller

• John SteinbeckJohn Steinbeck– Of Mice & Men Of Mice & Men (debatable) (debatable)

Famous Authors, Cont.Famous Authors, Cont.

• Regionalist:Regionalist:• Mark TwainMark Twain• Kate ChopinKate Chopin• Psychological Realist:Psychological Realist:• Stephen CraneStephen Crane• Henry JamesHenry James• Ambrose BierceAmbrose Bierce

- “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”- “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”