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Realism

1860-1914

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Influences

The US Civil War played a major role in

the development of Realism. Theinnocent young democracy was

exhausted and disillusioned.

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Post War

America now idealized the self-made man.

Era of millionaire manufacturer and thespeculator.

Darwins theory of evolution seemed to apply

to business and permit unethical methods.

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Post War, Continued

Business boomed after the war.

Enormous natural resources helped drivebusiness.

So did intercontinental rail system (1869).

Influx of immigrants (23 million German,Scandinavian, and Irish)

In 1860, most Americans lived on farms. Butby 1919, of the population wasconcentrated in about 12 cities. Causedhousing problems and wage slavery.

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Post war, final

Labor unions grew.

Farmers struggled against banks in the East.

Banks tightly controlled mortgages and credit. Farmers became objects of ridicule as the

unsophisticated rube or hick.

1860 = fewer than 100 millionaires, by 1875 =1,000

With industrialization, came alienation.

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Famous Authors Mark Twain (1835-

1910)

Real name = Samuel Clemens

Grew up in Hannibal, MO (2 hrs north on

Mississippi River)

First American writer to break away from

flowery speech and write in realistic American

English.

Often used humor to point out unpleasant

truths.

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Mark Twain, continued

Like many Realism-era writers wrote

regionally.

Most of his writing is about areas hes familiar

with (near where he lived).

Able to provide unique details such as accents

and regional dialect combined with realistic

descriptions of surroundings.

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Famous Authors Bret Harte (1836-

1902)

Author of adventure stories about the gun-

slinging west.

Was, at one time, the best-known writer in

America.

One of the first authors to introduce realistic

low-life characters (robbers, prostitutes,

gamblers, etc.). Was able to get away with it

by showing in the end they had hearts of gold.

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Famous Authors Kate Chopin (1851-

1904)/Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935)

Stories often pointed out inequality between

the sexes.

Early examples of feminist fiction.

Stories usually featured in Louisiana or the

deep south.

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Famous Authors Stephen Crane

(1871-1900)

Born in New Jersey.

Saw life at its rawest and grittiest (in slums

and on battlefields)

Wrote many plays, essays, and short stories.

The Red Badge of Courage became a hit right

before he died at 29.