Realism in American LiteratureRealism in American Literature1860-1890 1860-1890

What exactly is realism?What exactly is realism? Realism emphasizes the depiction of life as Realism emphasizes the depiction of life as

it is lived, especially the middle-class.it is lived, especially the middle-class. A reaction A reaction againstagainst Romanticism, which Romanticism, which

tries to find the tries to find the idealideal.. Different than Naturalism, which relies on Different than Naturalism, which relies on

scientific laws that would control actionsscientific laws that would control actions

An actual An actual picturepicture of life of life

Realism Realism

Writers wrote fiction devoted to accurate Writers wrote fiction devoted to accurate representation and an exploration of representation and an exploration of American lives.American lives.

There was rapid growth in industrialism.There was rapid growth in industrialism. Realists are fascinated by individuals: Realists are fascinated by individuals:

they love the idea that human beings they love the idea that human beings must learn and change their worlds – or must learn and change their worlds – or be held responsible for be held responsible for notnot doing those doing those things things

EmphasisEmphasis

emphasis on verisimilitude - having the emphasis on verisimilitude - having the appearance of “truth” appearance of “truth”

Diction is natural speaking, not poetic Diction is natural speaking, not poetic Tone may be comic, satiric or matter of Tone may be comic, satiric or matter of

factfact Realism is generally plot driven; works Realism is generally plot driven; works

pivot around conflicts we as readers wait pivot around conflicts we as readers wait to see resolved to see resolved

Qualities of RealismQualities of Realism realists fill their literature with realists fill their literature with factsfacts to bolster the to bolster the

reader's feeling that, yes, this reader's feeling that, yes, this isis just like the just like the everyday world I live in.everyday world I live in.

realist literature realist literature nevernever feels overblown, like a fairy feels overblown, like a fairy tale or a dream. tale or a dream.

Melville's Melville's Moby DickMoby Dick, which defines the romantic , which defines the romantic literary period that came before realism, is about literary period that came before realism, is about a crazed sea captain (Ahab) obsessed with killing a crazed sea captain (Ahab) obsessed with killing the fiercest whale in the world. the fiercest whale in the world. NotNot an everyday an everyday person in an everyday situation. person in an everyday situation.

Realist literature, on the other hand, might often Realist literature, on the other hand, might often leave you saying, "That character totally reminds leave you saying, "That character totally reminds me of my aunt." me of my aunt."

Famous American RealistsFamous American Realists

Mark Twain – Mark Twain – Huck FinnHuck Finn (many others!) (many others!) Kate Chopin – Kate Chopin – The AwakeningThe Awakening Bret Harte – Bret Harte – The Luck of Roaring CampThe Luck of Roaring Camp

"realism is nothing more and nothing less "realism is nothing more and nothing less than the truthful treatment of material." - than the truthful treatment of material." -

Howells Howells