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1.Reality is examined in close detail. 2.Character is more important than action and plot. 3.Complex ethical choices are often the subject 4.Characters are real and complex 5.Class status is important 6.Events will be believable 7.Diction is true to the land in which the story takes place 8.Humans control their own destiny 9.Characters act on their environments, not just react to it Characteristics of Realism
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1860-1890
American Realism
The Civil War raged in the country from 1861-1865This changed the landscape of literature in the United States from an idealistic, romantic tone to more realistic characters and plots
The Setting
1. Reality is examined in close detail.2. Character is more important than action and plot.3. Complex ethical choices are often the subject4. Characters are real and complex5. Class status is important6. Events will be believable7. Diction is true to the land in which the story takes place8. Humans control their own destiny9. Characters act on their environments, not just react to it
Characteristics of Realism
1. The Civil War2. Migration to the cities, leaving the farms behind3. More and more immigrants are moving to the U.S.4. Sweeping economic and social reforms took place5. Americans wanted realistic stories that dealt with the
complexities of human life and American life6. Did not want slow paced stories or stories with a lot of
symbolism and allegory
Influences on American Realism
“Man is the measure of all things. {people decide what is true for themselves and act accordingly.}”
Protagoras
Unit Quote
Ambiguityan obscure or double meaningMoralConcerned with the principles of right and wrong behavior and the goodness or badness of human characterMoral RelativismMoral judgments are true or false only relative to some particular standpoint (i.e. a culture or a particular time period) and that no standpoint is uniquely privileged over others.Moral CompassA natural feeling that makes people know what is right and wrong and how they should behave
Unit Theme: Ambiguity
Millgram ExperimentAn experiment focusing on the conflict between obedience to authority and personal conscience. Asks the question: how far will someone compromise their moral compass at the direction of an authority figure?Stanford Prison ExperimentA group of college students acted as “prisoners” and “guards” for six days. Asks the question: how much influence does the environment have on one’s moral compass?
The Experiments
