American Realism,

Regionalism, and Naturalism

1860-1920(ish)

What is Realism?

A faithful representation of reality in literature, also known as “verisimilitude” (the appearance of truth, the quality of truth)Emphasis on development of believable characters.Written in natural vernacular, or dialect.Prominent from 1860-1890.

Realism

Realism sought to portray life as faithfully and accurately as possible, focusing on ordinary people suffering the harsh realties of everyday life. It depicts ordinary people coping with everyday realities.Authors included Mark Twain, Henry James, Edith Wharton, Willa Cather, and DunbarThe Literature

Presented life objectivelyFavored science and technologyFound meaning in the mundaneFocused on socials ills and social conflict

Elements of Realism

Rejection of the idealized, larger-than-life hero of Romantic LiteratureDetailed depiction of ordinary characters and realistic eventsEmphasis on characters from cities and lower classesAvoidance of the exotic, sensational, and overly dramaticUse of everyday speech patterns to reveal class distinctionsFocus on the ethical struggles and social issues of real-life situationsSought to explain why ordinary people behave the way they do

Realist Writers

Mark Twain

William Dean Howells

Henry James

Edgar Lee Masters

Why did Realism develop?

The Civil War

The urbanization and industrialization of America

As a reaction to Romanticism

Increasing rates of democracy and literacy

The emerging middle class

Upheaval and social change in the latter half of the 19th century

What is Regionalism?

Often called “local color.”

Focuses on characters, dialect, customs, topography, and other features specific to a certain region (eg. the South)

Coincided with Realism and sharing many of the same traits.

Prominent from 1865-1895.

Regionalist Writers

Kate Chopin—South

Mary E. Wilkins-Freeman—New England

Mark Twain—West

Willa Cather—Midwest

Why did Regionalism develop?

Dual influence of Romanticism and Realism

The Civil War and the building of a national identity

An outgrowth of realism with more focus on a particular setting and its influence over characters

What is Naturalism?

Applied scientific principles of objectivity and detachment to the study of human beings.Influenced by Darwinism (natural selection) and psychology (Freud)Posited that individuals were governed by heredity and environment.Often depict man in conflict with nature, society, or himself.Prominent from 1880-1920(ish)

Naturalism

Influenced by emerging disciplines of psychology and sociologyAttempt to analyze human behavior objectively, as a scientist wouldBelief that human behavior is determined by heredity and environmentSense that human beings cannot control their own destiniesSense of life as a losing battle against an uncaring universe

Naturalist Writers

Stephen CraneAmbrose BierceJack LondonEdwin Arlington RobinsonKatherine Anne PorterCharlotte Perkins GilmanEdith Wharton

Why did Naturalism develop?

The swell of immigrants in the latter half of the 19th century, which led to a larger lower class and increased poverty in the cities

The prominence of psychology and the theories of Sigmund Freud

Pessimism in the wake of the Civil War and Reconstruction

Publication of Charles Darwin’s Origin of the Species

Points to Remember…

Realism, Regionalism, and Naturalism are intertwined and connected.Their influence has dominated most literature created since 1920, though the movement itself is dated to roughly that point.They are truly American modes of writing.