American Realism
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Transcript of American Realism
American Realism
1865-1910
Realism• “Faithful representation of reality”• Largely a technique of writing• Often denotes middle-class life
Bye-Bye Romanticism• Formed as reaction against
romantic literature and art• Interested in scientific methods• Clear documentation of history• Rational philosophy
Driving Forces• Rapid growth after the Civil War• Democracy• Literacy increasing• Industrializing and Urbanizing• Immigration• Middle-class’ raising affluence
• Yearning to understand the culture of America
Literary Characteristics1 - Detailed following of reality
Literary Characteristics2 - Character over plot
Literary Characteristics3 - Ethical decisions at root of the
story
Literary Characteristics4 - Complexity of human emotion
and temperament shown
Literary Characteristics5 - Social status or class
distinguished
Literary Characteristics6 - Realistic events in plot
Romanticism vs. Realism • Dreams are the touchstones of our
character. Henry David Thoreau
• If you can't read, it's going to be hard to realize dreams.
Booker T. WAshington
Romanticism vs. Realism• What lies behind us and what lies
before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.Mark Twain
Romanticism vs. Realism Art
Realism vs. Romanticism Art