American American Regionalism, Regionalism, Realism, and Realism, and NaturalismNaturalism

1860-1920(ish)1860-1920(ish)

What is Realism?What is Realism? A faithful representation of reality A faithful representation of reality

(concrete, historical) in literature(concrete, historical) in literature

Emphasis on development of believable Emphasis on development of believable characters.characters.

Written in natural dialect.Written in natural dialect.

Emphasis on individual(s) in his/her social Emphasis on individual(s) in his/her social environmentenvironment

Prominent from 1860-1890.Prominent from 1860-1890.

Realist WritersRealist Writers Mark Twain Mark Twain read last yrread last yr

Kate ChopinKate Chopin women women writers unitwriters unit

Charlotte Perkins Charlotte Perkins Gilman Gilman women writers unitwomen writers unit

Jack London*Jack London* Stephen Crane*Stephen Crane*

Why did Realism Why did Realism develop?develop?

The Civil WarThe Civil War The urbanization and industrialization of AmericaThe urbanization and industrialization of America As a reaction to the fantasies of RomanticismAs a reaction to the fantasies of Romanticism The emerging middle class and increasing The emerging middle class and increasing

literacy ratesliteracy rates Upheaval and social change in the latter half of Upheaval and social change in the latter half of

the 19the 19thth century century

What is Regionalism?What is Regionalism? Often called “local color.”Often called “local color.” Focuses on characters, dialect, customs, Focuses on characters, dialect, customs,

topography, and other features specific to topography, and other features specific to a certain region (eg. the South)a certain region (eg. the South)

Writers depicted nearly every region of the Writers depicted nearly every region of the U.S.U.S.

A subset of RealismA subset of Realism

Regionalist WritersRegionalist Writers South: Kate Chopin South: Kate Chopin women writer’s unitwomen writer’s unit, Mark Twain, Mark Twain New England: Mary Wilkins-Freeman New England: Mary Wilkins-Freeman women writer’s unitwomen writer’s unit

West: Mark Twain, John SteinbeckWest: Mark Twain, John Steinbeck Midwest: Willa Cather Midwest: Willa Cather (not reading…but check her out sometime)(not reading…but check her out sometime)

What is Naturalism?What is Naturalism? An An extreme form of Realismextreme form of Realism which arose in the late 19 which arose in the late 19thth / /

early 20early 20thth century. century.

Authors emphasized the roles of heredity and Authors emphasized the roles of heredity and environment, outside forces, on human characters. environment, outside forces, on human characters.

Narrators are often objective and detached.Narrators are often objective and detached.

Influenced by Darwinism (natural selection- “survival of Influenced by Darwinism (natural selection- “survival of the fittest”)the fittest”)

Focuses on the idea of Focuses on the idea of determinismdeterminism (concept that (concept that human beings do not have free will)human beings do not have free will)

Often depicts man in conflict with nature, society, or Often depicts man in conflict with nature, society, or himself.himself.

Usually dreary in toneUsually dreary in tone

Why did Naturalism Why did Naturalism develop?develop?

The swell of immigrants in the latter half of the The swell of immigrants in the latter half of the 1919thth century, which led to a larger lower class century, which led to a larger lower class and increased poverty in the citiesand increased poverty in the cities

The prominence of psychology and the theories The prominence of psychology and the theories of Sigmund Freudof Sigmund Freud

Pessimism in the wake of the Civil War and Pessimism in the wake of the Civil War and ReconstructionReconstruction

Publication of Charles Darwin’s Publication of Charles Darwin’s Origin of the Origin of the SpeciesSpecies

Naturalist WritersNaturalist Writers

Jack London Stephen Crane

Jack London (1876-1916)Jack London (1876-1916) Prolific writer of Prolific writer of The Call of the WildThe Call of the Wild (1903), (1903), The The

Sea-WolfSea-Wolf (1904), and 18 other novels, 200 (1904), and 18 other novels, 200 stories, over 400 nonfiction works stories, over 400 nonfiction works

First American writer to become millionaire from First American writer to become millionaire from being an authorbeing an author

Father abandoned family. Supported himself Father abandoned family. Supported himself working from age 13working from age 13

Attended UC-Berkeley for one semester in 1896Attended UC-Berkeley for one semester in 1896 An adventurer: Traveled in Yukon in winter An adventurer: Traveled in Yukon in winter

1897. Crossed the Pacific in small boat (1907-1897. Crossed the Pacific in small boat (1907-09); helped popularize Hawaii as tourist 09); helped popularize Hawaii as tourist destination destination

“To Build a Fire”

Alaska and the Yukon Territory

A Man against…

….Nature….His Dog….Himself

Nature vs. Civilization

Stephen Crane (1871-1900)Stephen Crane (1871-1900) Writer most famous for novel Writer most famous for novel The Red Badge of The Red Badge of

CourageCourage (1895), about a young man’s (1895), about a young man’s experience of Civil Warexperience of Civil War

After After Red BadgeRed Badge, became correspondent in , became correspondent in Cuban insurrection, 1897Cuban insurrection, 1897

Jan. 1897: En route to Cuba, steamer Jan. 1897: En route to Cuba, steamer The The CommodoreCommodore sank off Florida; Crane published sank off Florida; Crane published newspaper account and later the short story newspaper account and later the short story “The Open Boat”“The Open Boat”

1900: Died of tuberculosis 1900: Died of tuberculosis

“The Open Boat”

The Commodore

Mosquito InletLighthouse

•About the indifference of nature and the necessity for each person to confront that indifference independently

•About the ability of people to work together to make meaning (be civilized) despite nature’s indifference (unlike “To Build a Fire”)

Points to Remember…Points to Remember… Realism, Regionalism, and Naturalism are Realism, Regionalism, and Naturalism are

intertwined and connected. (Most Realist intertwined and connected. (Most Realist authors are either Regionalist or Naturalist)authors are either Regionalist or Naturalist)

Their influence has dominated most literature Their influence has dominated most literature created since 1920, though the movement itself created since 1920, though the movement itself is dated to roughly that point.is dated to roughly that point.

They are truly American modes of writing.They are truly American modes of writing. And…And…

Nature rules!