Realism in Literature

A response to Romanticism

What is Realism?

• American Realism is a style in art, music, and literature that depicts the lives and everyday activities of ordinary people.

• The movement began in the late 19th century.

How did it come about?

• The rise of Realism was actually a reaction against Romanticism.

Romanticism

• An artistic, literary, and intellectual movement that originated in Europe in the late 1700s.

• An idealized view of reality

• Romanticism focused on individualism, appreciation for the natural world, idealism, physical and emotional passion, and the supernatural.

Romanticism con’t

• Since Romanticism was introduced during a time of growth in the US, the literature reflected on ideas such as optimism, opportunity, and love.

• Characteristics: Plot-focused, imaginative, positive, emotionally intense, and not very realistic

Realism as a response to Romanticism

• As the 19th century went on, industrialization and urbanization led to major social and economic changes

• The rich and poor became divided

• There was a new need for literature that reflected people’s lives– their REAL lives

What does Realism Focus on?

• The immediate; the “here and now”

• Specific actions

• Consequences of actions

• Moral questions – concerned with the principles of right and wrong behavior

Characteristics of Realism• Focuses on reality

• Characters are more important than action and plot

• Characters display real human qualities such as temper, selfishness, and insecurities

• Social class is important (low, middle, and upper class)

Characteristics of Realism con’t

• Events are believable. Realistic novels stay away from dramatic stories and romances.

• Natural diction (word choice)

• Tone is NOT poetic; instead, may be comic, satiric, or matter-of-fact

Groups• For your novel, research the plot and decide

why it is an example of realism. Prepare to share with the class.

• Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain• The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton• Great Expectations by Charles Dickens• The Pearl by John Steinbeck