From Romanticism to From Romanticism to Realism & NaturalismRealism & Naturalism

Civil War to 1914Civil War to 1914

““A Wild Scene” Thomas Cole 1842 A Wild Scene” Thomas Cole 1842 Romanticism Romanticism

“ “Slave Hunt” Thomas Moran c. 1870Slave Hunt” Thomas Moran c. 1870

(p. 423 HRW brown text)(p. 423 HRW brown text)

““Home, Sweet Home, Sweet Home” Home”

Winslow HomerWinslow Homer

18631863

What details What details create the create the irony of the irony of the

title?title?

The Rise to RealismThe Rise to Realism 1859 Charles Darwin ‘s 1859 Charles Darwin ‘s Origin of the Origin of the

SpeciesSpecies changes perceptions of God and changes perceptions of God and man’s place in the universeman’s place in the universe

1861 Civil War divides the US1861 Civil War divides the US Photography (Matthew Brady)Photography (Matthew Brady) 1865 Lincoln assassinated1865 Lincoln assassinated Progress of civil rights movements Progress of civil rights movements Gilded Age and ProgressivesGilded Age and Progressives 1911 Freud’s theories of the unconscious 1911 Freud’s theories of the unconscious

mind again revise perceptions of “self”mind again revise perceptions of “self”

Photo-realismPhoto-realism

RealismRealism“Better to tell it like it is.”“Better to tell it like it is.”

Rejects the “romantic hero” in favor of Rejects the “romantic hero” in favor of ordinary people doing ordinary thingsordinary people doing ordinary things

Depicts society and urban settingsDepicts society and urban settings Uses slang, regional dialects and “local Uses slang, regional dialects and “local

color” to create realistic characters color” to create realistic characters Show concern for social issues and class Show concern for social issues and class

distinctionsdistinctions

Mark Twain, anti-RomanticMark Twain, anti-Romantic

Wreck of the “Sir Walter Scott”Wreck of the “Sir Walter Scott” Emmaline Grangerford Emmaline Grangerford

All about deathAll about death Really bad poetry, about deathReally bad poetry, about death

Tom’s books and plansTom’s books and plans ““James Fennimore Cooper’s Literary James Fennimore Cooper’s Literary

Offenses”Offenses”

““The only reason for the existence of a The only reason for the existence of a novel is that it does attempt to novel is that it does attempt to represent life.” -- Henry Jamesrepresent life.” -- Henry James

Naturalism, Naturalism, or “Life is hard and then you dieor “Life is hard and then you die

—probably painfully and in a gutter.”—probably painfully and in a gutter.”

Realism + Darwinism = NaturalismRealism + Darwinism = Naturalism Behavior is beyond human control, a Behavior is beyond human control, a

result of biology + environmentresult of biology + environment Man may try, but it’s a losing battle. Man may try, but it’s a losing battle. Fatalistic: Human behavior and Fatalistic: Human behavior and

destiny are predetermined and at the destiny are predetermined and at the mercy of an uncaring universe.mercy of an uncaring universe.

A man said to the universe:A man said to the universe:

““Sir, I exist!”Sir, I exist!”

““However,” replied the universe,However,” replied the universe,

““The fact has not created in meThe fact has not created in me

A sense of obligation.”A sense of obligation.”

--Stephen Crane--Stephen Crane

(author of (author of The Red The Red Badge of Badge of

Courage)Courage)