American Realism 1850-1900. The Catalyst The era’s origins lie in the increasing tension between...
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Transcript of American Realism 1850-1900. The Catalyst The era’s origins lie in the increasing tension between...
The Catalyst The era’s origins lie in the increasing
tension between the North and South
The Civil War prompted a shift in philosophy, literature, art, and politics…every aspect of American society.
Responses to the War Some responded with Idealism
Emerson: optimistic, full of patriotic fervor
had long warned that this would happen if slavery wasn’t abolished
Whitman: saw horrifying images but maintained optimism
Believed the war did reveal strength and heroism
Other Reactions Disillusionment
Herman Melville: war increased pessimism Believed war revealed “humanity’s basic evil”
Images of War Walt Whitman
wrote of the appalling condition of medical services
Wounded on field for days
No anesthesia Amputation and
death
The War in Literature Many historical works
Letters, journals, diaries
Very little literature produced…why? Few major writers saw the war first-hand **traditional literary forms were inadequate to
express the horrifying details Realistic novel had not been developed in U.S.
1st Realism novel about the war
The Red Badge of Courage
by Stephen Crane He was born 6 yrs. after the war Ironist: juxtapose human pretensions with
indifference of the universe
The Rise of Realism Reaction against
Romanticism Romanticism did not capture
real people and real circumstances
Realist writers aim at “a minute fidelity” to ordinary life
Wrote about slums, factories, corruption, cities rather than romantic settings
Goals of Realism Inspired by European writers Attempted to portray extreme accuracy and
detail Focused on not just WHAT people do…but
WHY Psychology Biology Sociology
American Regionalism Literature that emphasizes a specific
geographic setting Illustrates speech and customs of that region
Most famous American Regionalist Mark Twain
Realism in Journalism Strongest advocate: William
Dean Howells Realism should
Deal with the lives of ordinary people
Be faithful to development of character
Discuss social questions perplexing Americans
Naturalism Dissect human behavior with as
much objectivity as possible Scientific approach
Human behavior is determined by forces beyond the individual’s power
***view life as a grim, losing battle Human beings are subject to the
natural laws of the universe Fate over freewill