Realism

Brad Hutchinson

English 11

Realism

Realism was a literary movement that attempted to portray the world as realistically as possible to show problems (expose readers to these problems) so that people would work to solve them.

Main Contributors to Realism

Three writers made major contributions to the literature of realism.

Mark Twain

Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) contributed the realistic portrayal of “the common man.”

William Dean Howells

William Dean Howells contributed a realistic portrayal of society as both a writer and an editor.

Henry James

Henry James contributed a realistic portrayal of human consciousness—the inner life of people.

Characteristics of Realism

1. Portray reality as closely as possible.

2. Its writers believed that accurate portrayals of problems would cause people to want to solve them.

3. Its writers believed that social and political change was necessary.

Stories of Realism

Now, read the following stories noting characteristics of realism in each:

“Editha” by W. D. Howells

“Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin—this story has elements of both realism and regionalism, note both.