Realism

by: Jami Reber, Emily Bollinger, Alisa Chanchenchop, Jessica Luo &

Melissa Chai

Historical Context: Pre-CivilWar• North V.S. South: Industrial v.s. Agriculturial, Anti-Slavery v.s.

Pro-Slavery• Violence and conflicts during the period: Bleeding Kansas, John

Brown, Dred Scott vs. State trial, beating of Senator Sumner•  Huge cultural differences that would later lead to war

Beating of Senator Sumnerdepicts bleeding Kansas between North and South

Historical Context: Civil War• People held the Romantic hero idea, so many were eager to join

the war.• Reality of the war hit with the slaughter at Battle of Bull Run • Originally festive and glorious mood transitioned to a solemn and

serious mood.• Four long years of fighting, losing about 618,000 men's live and

the South left in ruins 

Ideas of the Age

After the Civil War, America was united once again but closer than they had been before.  Slavery was now outlawed, under Lincoln's Emacipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment. The United States had now become one country founded on the principles of freedom for all.   

Before the Civil War, people said, "The United States are..." now after the war, people began saying, "The

United States is..." (497).

The Beginning of Realism

After experiencing the gruesome nature of war, readers and writers abandoned romanticism and adventurous tales.  As a result, a new type of literature formed called Realism. This type of writing was more plainspoken, matter-of-fact, and honest.

Brilliant Mavericks

• Emerson called for a "worthy" poet for the nation with a "truly fresh voice with limitless passion and orginality"

                        Emily Dickinson                              Walt Whitman

Misunderstood, but, Appreciated

Emily Dickinson:                                            Walt Whitman:• shy/reclusive                                           - outspoken• her own inspiration                                 - current events/issues•  terse/compressed poetry                      - free verse• complex imagery                                    - expansive writing• personal subject matters                        - loose/rambling lines• great themes of life                                - emphasized individualism

                                                                        and emotion 

Both poets were transitional from romanticism to realism

Characteristics of Civil War Literature• Slave Narratives

o  testimonial tales of suffering; revealed the truth about slaveryo  made readers care by showing them that slaves were real human

beings  

• The Gettysburg Addresso From Abraham Lincoln to a larger audienceo  inspiring message and elevated language

represents the high ideals of the period

• Diaries and Letterso emphasized a personal experienceo writers each share "their" Civil Waro during the time of war, everyday life had

historical significance

• Civil War works later influence fictional authors to write realistic stories