Realism and Regionalism 1850 - 1900

Realismand

Regionalism1850 - 1900

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What is Realism?

• style of writing (and also of other arts)

• developed in 19th century

• attempts to depict life accurately without idealizing or romanticizing it


Characteristics of Realism

• emphasizes accuracy and objectivity

• depicts common, everyday heroes

• views the world scientifically (EMPIRICAL)

• focuses on real-life situations


Different from Romanticism• emphasized

imagination and emotion

• depicted larger-than-life heroes

• viewed the world poetically

• focused on exotic, supernatural, and imaginary worlds


Causes of Rise of Realism

• American Civil War• advances in

technology• advances in science

and education• social changes


The Civil War and Realism

• major cause of rise or Realism

• destroyed cities, industries, and lives

• left bitter memories and economic desolation in the South


Technology and Realism• also contributed to rise

of Realism• photography: people

now saw real, unattractive pictures of war and poverty

• telegraphs and railroads: more people now heard about events that affected the nation


Science, Education, and Realism• advances in psychology,

biology, geology contradicted long-held beliefs about humans, world, universe

• more women, minorities, poor had access to education and learned to read

• newspapers and new mass-circulation magazines were widely read


Social Changes and Realism

• 1865 --- Thirteenth Amendment

• outlawed slavery!!!


Social Changes and Realism• industrialization led to

overpopulation and poverty in cities

• agrarian economy of South devastated by war and loss of slave labor

• newly-freed slaves and other Southerners moved to Northern cities looking for work


Social Changes and Realism• immigrants from strife-

torn Europe arrived in droves

• Northern cities grew quickly and without planning

• slums houses many new arrivals

• lack of hygiene = rise of disease and death


Realistic Literature• contains themes that

center on contemporary society and on the lives of the middle and lower classes

• describes even unpleasant details of everyday life

• features characters drawn from poor and outcast of society


Realistic Literature• avoids extravagant

language; uses simple, everyday diction

• tries to show real life without personal feelings or idealistic thoughts color the writing

• brings science to the story to explore human behavior


Regionalism: American Realism

• literature that emphasizes a specific geographic setting and reproduces speech, behavior, and attitudes of the people who live in that region


Regionalism

• Regionalist writers differ from strict Realists by portraying their characters in a somewhat sentimental fashion

• Sarah Orne Jewett, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Bret Harte, Mark Twain


A Harsh Reality• A man said to

the universe: “Sir, I exist!” “However,” replied the universe, “the fact has not created in me a sense of obligation.”

- Stephen Crane


What Have You Learned?• Regionalism describes the speech,

behavior, and attitudes of the people in a particular geographic area.

A. True B. False• Realistic novelists rejectA. scientific explanationsB. dialogueC. accurate detailD. glorious heroes

The End

Now, let’s read some Realistic literature!!!

Documents

Realism and Regionalism 1850 - 1900