American Realism: 1860-1900. The Most Important Event:

American Realism:American Realism:1860-19001860-1900

The Most Important Event:The Most Important Event:

The Most Important Person:The Most Important Person:

Walt Whitman’s PredictionWalt Whitman’s Prediction

““A great literature will arise out of the era of those A great literature will arise out of the era of those four years”four years”

--Walt Whitman--Walt Whitman Almost none of the great American writers saw Almost none of the great American writers saw

battle. Almost no one who fought wrote about it.battle. Almost no one who fought wrote about it. The great book of the Civil War was written by a The great book of the Civil War was written by a

man who was not born until six years after the man who was not born until six years after the war had ended: Stephen Cranewar had ended: Stephen Crane

A response to the Civil WarA response to the Civil War IdealismIdealism

Whitman: “Future Whitman: “Future years will never know years will never know the seething hell and the seething hell and the background of the background of countless minor countless minor scenes and interiors scenes and interiors … and it is best they … and it is best they should not—the real should not—the real war will never get in war will never get in the books.”the books.”

The urbanization and The urbanization and industrialization of Americaindustrialization of America

As a reaction to As a reaction to RomanticismRomanticism

Increasing rates of Increasing rates of democracy and literacydemocracy and literacy

The emerging middle classThe emerging middle class Upheaval and social Upheaval and social

change in the latter half of change in the latter half of the 19the 19thth century century

Realism as a Reaction to Realism as a Reaction to RomanticismRomanticism

No more:No more:

Idealized escapes into natureIdealized escapes into nature

Imaginative descriptions of the evil of the Imaginative descriptions of the evil of the human soulhuman soul

Essays on “Romantic Ideals”Essays on “Romantic Ideals”

The Rise of RealismThe Rise of Realism

Realism defined: Literature written from Realism defined: Literature written from approximately 1860-1900 that aims at a approximately 1860-1900 that aims at a Verisimilitude (truthfulness) to the common Verisimilitude (truthfulness) to the common course of ordinary life.course of ordinary life.

Subjects are taken fromSubjects are taken from SlumsSlums FactoriesFactories Corruption of politicsCorruption of politics ProstitutionProstitution SlaverySlavery

Realist WritersRealist Writers

Mark TwainMark Twain William Dean HowellsWilliam Dean Howells Henry JamesHenry James Edgar Lee MastersEdgar Lee Masters

RegionalismRegionalism

”Local Color””Local Color” Dialects, settings, characters, customs,Dialects, settings, characters, customs, Other features specific to a certain region Other features specific to a certain region i.e. The American South, The Westi.e. The American South, The West The tricksterThe trickster Coincided with Realism and shared many Coincided with Realism and shared many

of the same traits.of the same traits. Prominent from 1865-1895.Prominent from 1865-1895.

Regional WritersRegional Writers

Kate Chopin—SouthKate Chopin—South Mary E. Wilkins-Freeman—New EnglandMary E. Wilkins-Freeman—New England Mark Twain—WestMark Twain—West Willa Cather—MidwestWilla Cather—Midwest

NaturalismNaturalism A subset of realism thatA subset of realism that

Claims to portray life exactly as it is, with Claims to portray life exactly as it is, with detachment and objectivitydetachment and objectivity

Relies heavily on the growing scientific disciplines Relies heavily on the growing scientific disciplines of psychology and sociologyof psychology and sociology

Attempts to dissect human behavior with Attempts to dissect human behavior with objectivity objectivity

Is super-influenced by Charles DarwinIs super-influenced by Charles Darwin Believes that human behavior is determined by Believes that human behavior is determined by

heredity and environmentheredity and environment Sees human beings as subject to natural forces Sees human beings as subject to natural forces

beyond their controlbeyond their control

Naturalist WritersNaturalist Writers

Stephen CraneStephen Crane Ambrose BierceAmbrose Bierce Jack LondonJack London Katherine Anne PorterKatherine Anne Porter Charlotte Perkins GilmanCharlotte Perkins Gilman Edith WhartonEdith Wharton

Things to remember. . .Things to remember. . .

Realism, Regionalism, and Naturalism are Realism, Regionalism, and Naturalism are intertwined and connected.intertwined and connected.

Their influence has dominated most Their influence has dominated most literature created since 1860.literature created since 1860.

They are truly American modes of writing.They are truly American modes of writing.