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The Rise of Realism

The Rise of Realism. 1850-1900. Historical Background. Population 42 million: Immigration now from eastern Europe, Russia, Scandinavian countries. Transportation. Key to settlement, shapes subject matter, and attitudes of writers. Unresolved Challenges. Civil War No more slaves

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The Rise of Realism

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  1. The Rise of Realism 1850-1900

  2. Historical Background • Population 42 million: Immigration now from eastern Europe, Russia, Scandinavian countries

  3. Transportation • Key to settlement, shapes subject matter, and attitudes of writers

  4. Unresolved Challenges • Civil War • No more slaves • Growth of industry • Causes slums and labor unrest • Agricultural problems

  5. Realism in literature • Takes the place of Romanticism • Portrays ordinary life as real people live it • Attempts to show characters and events in an objective, almost factual way

  6. Realism in Literature • Portrays the brutal frontier life. • Portrays the problems with cities, slums, and labor unionscorruption • Realism finds meaning in the commonplace

  7. Rise in Realism • Realistic writers can deal honestly with characters that Romantic writers either avoided or glossed over such as factory workers, bosses, politicians, and gunfighters.

  8. Naturalism • More than realism—naturalism shows the inescapable work through natural forces • People have no control over events (writers tended to be pessimistic) • Naturalist writer—Jack London

  9. Naturalism • Destiny is decided by: • Heredity • Environment • Physical drives • Economic circumstances

  10. Regionalism • Also called Local Color Movement • Emphasis on specific geographic setting; can be sentimental/unrealistic • Regional dialect (speech/manners)

  11. Regionalism • Portrays vivid descriptions of landscapes • Seeks to capture essence of life in various regions of growing nation

  12. Literature During this Period • Short stories, novels, poetry, and muckraking journalism • Famous writers: • Stephen Crane • Henry James • Jack London • Harriet Beecher Stowe • Kate Chopin • W. E. B. Dubois • Willa Cather

  13. Elements of Realism • Real-life situation (ethical struggles and social issues) • Ordinary characters and realistic events • Everyday speech patterns are used to reveal class and geographic distinctions (regionalism)

  14. Realism, Naturalism, and Realism • Realism, Regionalism, and Naturalism are intertwined and connected. • Their influence has dominated most literature created since 1920, though the movement itself is dated to roughly that point. • They are truly American modes of writing.

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