RealismRealism

Began after the Civil War as a Began after the Civil War as a reaction against the idealism of the reaction against the idealism of the Romanticists & TranscendentalistsRomanticists & Transcendentalists

The enormous loss of life from the The enormous loss of life from the war shattered many people’s war shattered many people’s idealistic attitudesidealistic attitudes

Writers began to focus on portraying Writers began to focus on portraying “real life” “real life”

Focus was on ordinary people and Focus was on ordinary people and how they lived lifehow they lived life

Attempted to show characters and Attempted to show characters and events in an honest, objective, and events in an honest, objective, and almost factual wayalmost factual way

Stressed “sincerity” as opposed to Stressed “sincerity” as opposed to the “liberty” of the romantic the “liberty” of the romantic movementmovement

Focused onFocused on

accurate documentationaccurate documentation Sociological insightSociological insight Accumulation of the details of Accumulation of the details of

material factmaterial fact Avoidance of poetic diction, Avoidance of poetic diction,

idealization, exaggeration, idealization, exaggeration, melodrama, etc.melodrama, etc.

Focus ContinuedFocus Continued

Subjects were taken from everyday Subjects were taken from everyday life (preferably from the lower class)life (preferably from the lower class)

Reflected the interests of an Reflected the interests of an increasingly positivist and scientific increasingly positivist and scientific ageage

Stephen CraneStephen Crane (1871-1900)(1871-1900)

Ambrose BierceAmbrose Bierce (1842-1914?)(1842-1914?)

Bret HarteBret Harte (1836-1902)(1836-1902)

Willa CatherWilla Cather (1873-1947)(1873-1947)

Kate ChopinKate Chopin (1850-1904)(1850-1904)

NaturalismNaturalism

Resulted as an offshoot of realismResulted as an offshoot of realism Applied many of the principles of Applied many of the principles of

realismrealism Major focus on how larger forces (i.e. Major focus on how larger forces (i.e.

nature, heredity, & fate) shaped nature, heredity, & fate) shaped individual destinyindividual destiny

Notable AuthorsNotable Authors

Jack LondonJack London (1876-1916)(1876-1916)