RealismRealism

Regionalism & Local ColorRegionalism & Local Color

1865-19201865-1920

What is realism?What is realism?

Broadly defined, a literary Broadly defined, a literary technique devoted to "the faithful technique devoted to "the faithful representation of reality" representation of reality"

A reaction against romanticismA reaction against romanticism Sparked by an interest in the Sparked by an interest in the

scientific method, the scientific method, the systematizing of the study of systematizing of the study of documentary history, and the documentary history, and the influence of rational philosophy influence of rational philosophy

Realist writers …Realist writers …

Endeavored to accurately represent contemporary Endeavored to accurately represent contemporary culture and people from all walks of life culture and people from all walks of life

Addressed themes of socioeconomic conflict by Addressed themes of socioeconomic conflict by contrasting the living conditions of the poor with contrasting the living conditions of the poor with those of the upper classes in urban as well as rural those of the upper classes in urban as well as rural societies societies

Sought to narrate their novels from an objective, Sought to narrate their novels from an objective, unbiased perspective that simply and clearly unbiased perspective that simply and clearly represented the factual elements of the story represented the factual elements of the story

Became masters at psychological Became masters at psychological characterization, detailed descriptions of everyday characterization, detailed descriptions of everyday life in realistic settings, and dialogue that captures life in realistic settings, and dialogue that captures the idioms of natural human speech the idioms of natural human speech

Some Key InfluencesSome Key Influences

Rapid growth after the Civil WarRapid growth after the Civil War Increasing rates of democracy and Increasing rates of democracy and

literacyliteracy Rapid growth in industrialism and Rapid growth in industrialism and

urbanizationurbanization An expanding population base due to An expanding population base due to

immigrationimmigration A relative rise in middle-class affluenceA relative rise in middle-class affluence Interest in understanding these rapid Interest in understanding these rapid

shifts in culture shifts in culture Concern about loss of personal identity Concern about loss of personal identity

Local Color/Regional Local Color/Regional LiteratureLiterature

Local colorLocal color or or regional regional literature literature focuses on the characters, dialect, focuses on the characters, dialect, customs, topography, and other customs, topography, and other features particular to a specific features particular to a specific region.region.

Between the Civil War and the end of Between the Civil War and the end of the nineteenth century, this mode of the nineteenth century, this mode of writing became dominant in writing became dominant in American literature. American literature.

Local ColorLocal Color

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

Regional LiteratureRegional Literature

Regional literature incorporates the Regional literature incorporates the broader concept of sectional broader concept of sectional differences within a locale. differences within a locale.

For example, in For example, in The Adventures of The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn, Mark Twain makes , Mark Twain makes use of seven distinct dialects to use of seven distinct dialects to represent the differences of various represent the differences of various groups living in the region. groups living in the region.

ImpactsImpacts

Contributed to the reunification of Contributed to the reunification of the country after the Civil Warthe country after the Civil War

Helped build a national identity Helped build a national identity

Contributed to the narrative of Contributed to the narrative of unified nationhood that late unified nationhood that late nineteenth-century America nineteenth-century America sought to construct sought to construct

Regionalism in ArtRegionalism in Art

Regionalism is a realist modern American Regionalism is a realist modern American art movement wherein artists shunned the art movement wherein artists shunned the city and rapidly developing technological city and rapidly developing technological advances to focus on scenes of rural lifeadvances to focus on scenes of rural life

Regionalist style was at its height from Regionalist style was at its height from 1930 to 1935. 1930 to 1935.

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, During the Great Depression of the 1930s, Regionalist art was widely appreciated for Regionalist art was widely appreciated for its reassuring images of the American its reassuring images of the American heartland.heartland.

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

Shared Characteristics in Shared Characteristics in Local Color & Regional Local Color & Regional LiteratureLiterature

SettingSetting CharactersCharacters NarratorNarrator PlotsPlots ThemesThemes

SettingSetting

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

CharactersCharacters

Local color stories tend to be concerned Local color stories tend to be concerned with the character of the district or with the character of the district or region rather than with the individual: region rather than with the individual: characters may become character types, characters may become character types, sometimes quaint or stereotypical. sometimes quaint or stereotypical.

The characters are marked by their The characters are marked by their adherence to the old ways, by dialect, adherence to the old ways, by dialect, and by particular personality traits and by particular personality traits central to the region.central to the region.

NarratorNarrator

The narrator is typically an educated The narrator is typically an educated observer from the world beyond who observer from the world beyond who learns something from the characters learns something from the characters while preserving a sometimes while preserving a sometimes sympathetic, sometimes ironic distance sympathetic, sometimes ironic distance from them. from them.

The narrator serves as mediator between The narrator serves as mediator between the rural folk of the tale and the urban the rural folk of the tale and the urban audience to whom the tale is directed. audience to whom the tale is directed.

PlotsPlots

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

Stories may include Stories may include lots of storytelling lots of storytelling and revolve around and revolve around the community and the community and its rituals. its rituals.

ThemesThemes

Many local color stories share an antipathy to change Many local color stories share an antipathy to change and a nostalgia for an always-past golden age. Thematic and a nostalgia for an always-past golden age. Thematic tension or conflict between urban ways and old-tension or conflict between urban ways and old-fashioned rural values is often symbolized by the fashioned rural values is often symbolized by the intrusion of an outsider or interloper who seeks intrusion of an outsider or interloper who seeks something from the community.something from the community.

Shared Techniques Shared Techniques

Use of dialect to establish credibility Use of dialect to establish credibility and authenticity of regional characters. and authenticity of regional characters.

Use of detailed description, especially Use of detailed description, especially of small, seemingly insignificant details of small, seemingly insignificant details central to an understanding of the central to an understanding of the region. region.

Frequent use of a frame story in which Frequent use of a frame story in which the narrator hears some tale of the the narrator hears some tale of the region. region.

Famous Practitioners …Famous Practitioners …

Mark TwainMark Twain Bret HarteBret Harte Hamlin GarlandHamlin Garland Joel Chandler Joel Chandler

HarrisHarris William FaulknerWilliam Faulkner William StyronWilliam Styron Robert FrostRobert Frost Sinclair LewisSinclair Lewis Henry JamesHenry James

John SteinbeckJohn Steinbeck Dashiell HammettDashiell Hammett Kate ChopinKate Chopin Harriet Beecher Harriet Beecher

StoweStowe Eudora WeltyEudora Welty Sarah Orne JewettSarah Orne Jewett Willa CatherWilla Cather Harper LeeHarper Lee

Samuel Langhorne Samuel Langhorne Clemens Clemens (1835-1910)(1835-1910) Samuel Langhorne Clemens, Samuel Langhorne Clemens,

aka. Mark Twain, was a aka. Mark Twain, was a natural-born storyteller who natural-born storyteller who was the first writer to was the first writer to recognize that art could be recognize that art could be created out of the American created out of the American language. language.

Through his use of carefully Through his use of carefully chosen words and his sharply chosen words and his sharply honed humor, he dealt head-on honed humor, he dealt head-on with controversial issues that with controversial issues that others were afraid to confront.others were afraid to confront.

Mark Twain’s Writing AdviceMark Twain’s Writing Advice

““Whatever you have Whatever you have lived, you can write – lived, you can write – & by hard work & a & by hard work & a genuine genuine apprenticeship, you can apprenticeship, you can learn to write well; but learn to write well; but what you have not lived what you have not lived you cannot write, you you cannot write, you can only pretend to can only pretend to write it...”write it...”

““An Enormous An Enormous Noticer”Noticer” Mark Twain is described as “an enormous Mark Twain is described as “an enormous

noticer.” Much of what he noticed as a boy noticer.” Much of what he noticed as a boy growing up in the small Mississippi River growing up in the small Mississippi River town of Hannibal, Missouri, found its way into town of Hannibal, Missouri, found its way into his writings in books such as his writings in books such as The Adventures The Adventures of Tom Sawyerof Tom Sawyer and and The Adventures of The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn. .

He was always noticing whether people had He was always noticing whether people had their hands in their pockets or not, how they their hands in their pockets or not, how they dressed, walked, spoke or presented dressed, walked, spoke or presented themselves to others. themselves to others.

Consider this passage from the first Consider this passage from the first chapter of chapter of Tom SawyerTom Sawyer, for , for example: example:

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

Now, close your eyes Now, close your eyes …… What am I wearing?What am I wearing? What is currently hanging on the back What is currently hanging on the back

bulletin board?bulletin board? What color are the walls in this room?What color are the walls in this room? How many book shelves are in this room?How many book shelves are in this room? Are there more boys or girls in this class?Are there more boys or girls in this class? What object is sitting above the white What object is sitting above the white

board on the left side?board on the left side?

Twain’s First SuccessTwain’s First Success

"The Celebrated "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" Calaveras County" (1865) was Twain’s first (1865) was Twain’s first great success as a great success as a writer, bringing him writer, bringing him national attention. national attention.

In it, the narrator retells In it, the narrator retells a story he heard from a a story he heard from a bartender at the Angels bartender at the Angels Hotel in Angels Camp, Hotel in Angels Camp, California, about the California, about the gambler Jim Smiley and gambler Jim Smiley and his “celebrated jumping his “celebrated jumping frog”. frog”.

How he got started …How he got started …

Twain began his career as a journalist, Twain began his career as a journalist, travel writer, and writer of light, travel writer, and writer of light, humorous verse.humorous verse.

He evolved into a chronicler of the He evolved into a chronicler of the vanities, hypocrisies. and murderous vanities, hypocrisies. and murderous acts of mankind, making frequent use acts of mankind, making frequent use of satire.of satire.

At mid-career, with At mid-career, with Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn, , he combined rich humor, sturdy he combined rich humor, sturdy narrative and social criticism. narrative and social criticism.

What is satire?What is satire?

A literary genre or form in which vices, follies, A literary genre or form in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement. society itself, into improvement.

Although satire is usually meant to be funny, its Although satire is usually meant to be funny, its greater purpose is often constructive social greater purpose is often constructive social criticism, using wit as a weapon.criticism, using wit as a weapon.

A common feature of satire is strong irony or A common feature of satire is strong irony or sarcasm; it also makes frequent use of parody, sarcasm; it also makes frequent use of parody, burlesque, analogy, exaggeration, juxtaposition, burlesque, analogy, exaggeration, juxtaposition, and double entendre. and double entendre.

Modern Examples: Modern Examples: Animal FarmAnimal Farm; ; Fahrenheit 451Fahrenheit 451; ; Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies; ; Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live, , “Doonesbury,” John Stewart; Stephen Colbert; The “Doonesbury,” John Stewart; Stephen Colbert; The Simpsons; South ParkSimpsons; South Park

Twain on Humor …Twain on Humor …

““Humor must not Humor must not professedly teach, professedly teach, and it must not and it must not professedly professedly preach, but it preach, but it must do both if it must do both if it would live would live forever.”forever.”

– – Mark TwainMark Twain

Most Famous BooksMost Famous Books

The Innocents The Innocents AbroadAbroad

Roughing ItRoughing It The Adventures The Adventures

of Tom Sawyerof Tom Sawyer The Prince and The Prince and

the Pauperthe Pauper Life on the Life on the

MississippiMississippi

The Adventures of The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn

A Connecticut A Connecticut Yankee in King Yankee in King Arthur’s CourtArthur’s Court

The Tragedy of The Tragedy of Pudd’nhead Pudd’nhead WilsonWilson

A Burlesque A Burlesque AutobiographyAutobiography

The Adventures of Tom The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Sawyer – a prequel to – a prequel to Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn

Twain’s Use of DialectTwain’s Use of Dialect

Twain was a master at rendering Twain was a master at rendering colloquial speech and helped to create colloquial speech and helped to create and popularize a distinctive American and popularize a distinctive American literature built on American themes and literature built on American themes and language.language.

In In The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, , Twain uses seven different dialects and Twain uses seven different dialects and even provides an explanation for doing so even provides an explanation for doing so ……

Twain’s “EXPLANATORY”Twain’s “EXPLANATORY”

““IN this book a number of dialects are used, to IN this book a number of dialects are used, to wit:  the Missouri negro dialect; the extremest wit:  the Missouri negro dialect; the extremest form of the backwoods Southwestern dialect; the form of the backwoods Southwestern dialect; the ordinary "Pike County" dialect; and four modified ordinary "Pike County" dialect; and four modified varieties of this last. The shadings have not been varieties of this last. The shadings have not been done in a haphazard fashion, or by guesswork; done in a haphazard fashion, or by guesswork; but painstakingly, and with the trustworthy but painstakingly, and with the trustworthy guidance and support of personal familiarity with guidance and support of personal familiarity with these several forms of speech.these several forms of speech.

I make this explanation for the reason that I make this explanation for the reason that without it many readers would suppose that all without it many readers would suppose that all these characters were trying to talk alike and not these characters were trying to talk alike and not succeeding.”succeeding.”

Missouri Negro:Missouri Negro: Jim Jim

““Goodness gracious, is dat you, Huck? Goodness gracious, is dat you, Huck? En you ain’ dead-you ain’t drownded-En you ain’ dead-you ain’t drownded-you’s back ag’in? It’s too good for true, you’s back ag’in? It’s too good for true, honey, it’s too good for true. Lemme honey, it’s too good for true. Lemme look at you chile, lemme feel o’ you. look at you chile, lemme feel o’ you. No, you ain’ dead! you’s back ag’in, No, you ain’ dead! you’s back ag’in, ‘live en soun’, jis de same ole Huck-de ‘live en soun’, jis de same ole Huck-de same ole Huck, thanks to goodness!” same ole Huck, thanks to goodness!”

Extremist form of the backwoods Extremist form of the backwoods Southwestern dialect: Southwestern dialect: Arkansas Gossips (Sister Hotchkiss)Arkansas Gossips (Sister Hotchkiss)

““Look at that-air grindstone, s’I; Look at that-air grindstone, s’I; want to tell me’t any cretur ‘t’s in want to tell me’t any cretur ‘t’s in his right mind’s a-goin’ to his right mind’s a-goin’ to scrabble all them crazy things scrabble all them crazy things onto a grindstone? s’I.” onto a grindstone? s’I.”

Ordinary “Pike County”:Ordinary “Pike County”: HuckHuck

““My folks was living in Pike My folks was living in Pike County, in Missouri, where I was County, in Missouri, where I was born, and they all died off but me born, and they all died off but me and pa and my brother Ike.” and pa and my brother Ike.”

Modified “Pike County”:Modified “Pike County”: King King

““Well, I’d ben a-runnin’ a little Well, I’d ben a-runnin’ a little temperence revival thar ‘bout a temperence revival thar ‘bout a week . . . and business a-growin’ week . . . and business a-growin’ all the time, when somehow or all the time, when somehow or another a little report got around another a little report got around last night that I had a way of last night that I had a way of puttin’ in my time with a private puttin’ in my time with a private jug on the sly.” jug on the sly.”

Huck as NarratorHuck as Narrator

The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was a breakthrough in American was a breakthrough in American literature for its presentation of Huck literature for its presentation of Huck Finn, an adolescent boy who tells the Finn, an adolescent boy who tells the story in his own language. The novel story in his own language. The novel was one of the first in America to was one of the first in America to employ the child's perspective and employ the child's perspective and employ the employ the vernacular vernacular — a language — a language specific to a region or group of peoplespecific to a region or group of people—throughout the book.—throughout the book.

Unique PerspectiveUnique Perspective

Huck's unique perspective is that of a Huck's unique perspective is that of a lower-class, southern white child, who lower-class, southern white child, who has been viewed as an outcast by has been viewed as an outcast by society. society.

From this position, Huck narrates the From this position, Huck narrates the story of his encounters with various story of his encounters with various southern types, sometimes revealing his southern types, sometimes revealing his naivete and, at other times, his acute naivete and, at other times, his acute ability to see through the hypocrisy of ability to see through the hypocrisy of his elders. his elders.

Realist and Realist and Regionalist Regionalist techniques are techniques are exemplified in exemplified in The Adventures The Adventures of Huckleberry of Huckleberry FinnFinn by the by the specific and specific and richly detailed richly detailed setting …setting …

… … and the novel's and the novel's insistence on insistence on dialect which dialect which attempts to attempts to reproduce the reproduce the natural speech of natural speech of a variety of a variety of characters unique characters unique to the Mississippi to the Mississippi Valley region.Valley region.

In addition, Huck's In addition, Huck's momentous momentous decision to free Jim, decision to free Jim, even if it means even if it means going to hell, is seen going to hell, is seen as a classic episode as a classic episode of Realist fiction of Realist fiction because it because it demonstrates the demonstrates the individual's struggle individual's struggle to make choices to make choices based on inner based on inner motivations, rather motivations, rather than outside forces. than outside forces.

Twain’s Warning:Twain’s Warning:

Many wonder if he really meant that since Many wonder if he really meant that since Huck goes through a major Huck goes through a major metamorphosis in his thinking about metamorphosis in his thinking about Jim …Jim …

On Race …On Race …

“ “ I have no race I have no race prejudices, and I think I prejudices, and I think I have no color have no color prejudices nor caste prejudices nor caste prejudices nor creed prejudices nor creed prejudices. Indeed I prejudices. Indeed I know it... All that I care know it... All that I care to know is that a man to know is that a man is a human being – that is a human being – that is enough for me.”is enough for me.”

– – Mark TwainMark Twain

Early ExperiencesEarly Experiences

Black people and black voices were part of Black people and black voices were part of Twain’s life from the beginning. Every summer Twain’s life from the beginning. Every summer as a child Sam spent several weeks on his as a child Sam spent several weeks on his uncle’s farm, where an old slave called “Uncle uncle’s farm, where an old slave called “Uncle Daniel” thrilled the youngsters with ghost Daniel” thrilled the youngsters with ghost stories. stories.

One of his most lasting childhood memories One of his most lasting childhood memories was not so pleasant. It was of a dozen men was not so pleasant. It was of a dozen men and women, chained together, waiting to be and women, chained together, waiting to be shipped down-river to the slave market. “They shipped down-river to the slave market. “They had,” he said, “the saddest faces I ever saw.”had,” he said, “the saddest faces I ever saw.”

Controversy/Book Controversy/Book BanningBanning The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, first first

published in 1884, was controversial from the published in 1884, was controversial from the start. In 1885, Concord Public Library banned start. In 1885, Concord Public Library banned the book. the book.

Mark Twain wrote to Charles Webster on March Mark Twain wrote to Charles Webster on March 18, 1885: "The Committee of the Public Library 18, 1885: "The Committee of the Public Library of Concord, Mass., have given us a rattling tip-of Concord, Mass., have given us a rattling tip-top puff which will go into every paper in the top puff which will go into every paper in the country. They have expelled Huck from their country. They have expelled Huck from their library as 'trash and suitable only for the library as 'trash and suitable only for the slums.' That will sell 25,000 copies for us sure."slums.' That will sell 25,000 copies for us sure."

In 1902, the Brooklyn Public Library In 1902, the Brooklyn Public Library banned banned The Adventures of Huckleberry The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnFinn with the statement that "Huck not with the statement that "Huck not only itched but he scratched," and that only itched but he scratched," and that he said "sweat" when he should have he said "sweat" when he should have said "perspiration."said "perspiration."

Modern Day IssuesModern Day Issues

In general, the debate over Twain's In general, the debate over Twain's The The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnAdventures of Huckleberry Finn has centered has centered around the language of the book, which has around the language of the book, which has been objected to on social grounds, been objected to on social grounds, specifically for its repeated use of the “N” specifically for its repeated use of the “N” word, which was in common usage in the pre-word, which was in common usage in the pre-Civil War period in which the novel was set. Civil War period in which the novel was set.

Yielding to public pressure, some textbook Yielding to public pressure, some textbook publishers have substituted "slave" or publishers have substituted "slave" or "servant" for the term that Mark Twain uses "servant" for the term that Mark Twain uses in the book, which has been considered in the book, which has been considered derogatory to African Americans. derogatory to African Americans.

The “N” WordThe “N” Word

Comes from the Latin adjective meaning “black” Comes from the Latin adjective meaning “black” (niger) and the Spanish/Portuguese word for black (niger) and the Spanish/Portuguese word for black (negro)(negro)

““Used rightly or wrongly, ironically or seriously, of Used rightly or wrongly, ironically or seriously, of necessity for the sake of realism, or impishly for necessity for the sake of realism, or impishly for the sake of comedy, it doesn't matter. Negroes do the sake of comedy, it doesn't matter. Negroes do not like it in any book or play whatsoever, be the not like it in any book or play whatsoever, be the book or play ever so sympathetic in its treatment book or play ever so sympathetic in its treatment of the basic problems of the race. Even though the of the basic problems of the race. Even though the book or play is written by a Negro, they still do not book or play is written by a Negro, they still do not like it. The word nigger, you see, sums up for us like it. The word nigger, you see, sums up for us who are colored all the bitter years of insult and who are colored all the bitter years of insult and struggle in America.” struggle in America.” - Langston Hughes- Langston Hughes

Others see it as the greatest Others see it as the greatest and most important American and most important American novel …novel …

"All modern American literature "All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark comes from one book by Mark Twain called Twain called Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn."."

- Ernest Hemingway, - Ernest Hemingway, Green Hills Green Hills of Africaof Africa