ROMANTICISM, REGIONALISM, REALISMLiterary Trends and Themes: PowerPoint adapted from the lecture by Carla McGill

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

After the Civil War Transformation of the United States

Rural Industrialized, Urban

Literature Reflects a variety of responses to these

changes: social institutions cultural values

SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL EVENTS

1865 – The Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution is ratified: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States . . .”

1866 – Ku Klux Klan is founded in Tennessee; Chief Seattle dies 1869 – The Cincinnati Redstockings, the first professional baseball

team, begins play 1870 – The Standard Oil Company is incorporated, with John D.

Rockefeller as president 1872 – Susan B. Anthony is arrested for trying to vote 1876 – Central Park opens in New York City 1880 – Cigarette rolling machine invented; mass production of

cigarettes begins 1882 – Ralph Waldo Emerson dies

SIGNIFICANT HISTORICAL EVENTS

1883 – The U.S. Supreme Court rules Native Americans are “aliens” and “dependents”; the Brooklyn Bridge is completed

1885 – The Washington Monument completed after 36 years of construction; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is published

1886 – Emily Dickinson dies 1887 – Chief Seattle’s speech

published for the first time in a newspaper

1890 – 300 Sioux and Chief Sitting Bull are killed by U. S. Army in Massacre at Wounded Knee

1895 – Frederick Douglass dies

ROMANTICISM (1820 - 1860S)

Originated in German, England, France, and then US

In the United StatesExpansionDistinctive American Voice

Writers shared Sense of wonder Belief in the potential of

people Emotions and intuition

Image of Emersonhttp://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/oal/lit3.htm

ROMANTICISM (1820 - 1860S)

Romantic ideas Centered around art as inspiration Spiritual and aesthetic dimension of nature Metaphors of organic growth

Art Best expresses universal truth Not Science

Importance of expressive art Individual Society

THE VOYAGE OF LIFE SERIES

THE LADY OF SHALLOT 1888

MUSIC FROM THE ROMANTICS

http://www.classicaltv.com/v851/classical-music/beethoven-symphony-no.-8-boston-symphony

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSizRAWZJhI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBRBaRXZ908&feature=fvw

ROMANTICISM (1820 - 1860S)

Themes Development of the Self

Self Awareness Self and Nature are one Self exploration is not selfish but instead a way of

understanding the universe Humanity

Moral duty Reform Social inequalities Relieve human suffering

Idea of Self Move from negative to positive

http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/oal/lit3.htm

ROMANTICISM (1820 - 1860S)

Sublime Effect of beauty in grandeur America’s landscape Produces feelings of

Awe Reverence Vastness Greatness beyond human comprehension

ROMANTICISM (1820 - 1860S)

Ideals Stressed Individualism Value of Common Person Imagination inspired by

Aesthetic Values Ethical Values

http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/oal/lit3.htm

REGIONALISM

REGIONALISM

Local Color Literature that Focuses on:

Characters Dialect Customs Topography

Of a specific (local) geographical region Southwestern Down East Humor Can Include (weaknesses)

Nostalgia or sentimentality

http://docsouth.unc.edu/southlit/regionalism.htmlhttp://www.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/lcolor.html

REGIONALISM

Dialect Establishes credibility and authenticity Regional Characters

Detailed Description Small details of a region Helps to understand the region

Frame Story Narrator hears a tale of the region

http://www.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/lcolor.html

REALISM

REALISM (1860 - 1890)

Specifically a technique and subject matter Middle class Life

Reaction to Romanticism Interested in Scientific Method Systematic representation of History

Rational Philosophy deterministic

http://www.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/realism.htm

REALISM (1860 - 1890)

Characteristics Reality

Well-made plot Characters

Important to action and plot Subject matter: Complex

ethical choices Complexity of attitude and

motive Related to nature, other

people, social class and past

Social Class is important Middle-Class

Events Realistic

Diction Tone

Comic Satiric Matter-of-fact

Objectivity

http://www.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/realism.htm

NATURALISM

NATURALISM

Applies Scientific Principles Objectivity Detachment from study of human beings Philosophical Position

“Pessimistic materialistic determinism” George Becker

Character’s Lives Governed by heredity and environment

http://www.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/natural.htm

NATURALISM - GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

Characters Mostly ill-educated or lower-class Lives dominated by heredity, instinct, passion Social Darwinism

Setting Urban

Plots Slice of Life

Despair

NATURALISM

Themes Survival, determinism, violence, and taboo (Walcutt) Nature

Force Acting on Humans Man against Man, Man against Nature Heredity and Environment

Affect and afflict Universe

Indifferent and Deterministic