Realism Naturalism 1850-1900

Realism Historical Context A. Civil War brings demand for a ‘truer’ type of literature that doesn’t idealize people or places B. People in society defined by ‘class’; materialism C. Reflect ideas of Darwin (survival of the fittest) and Marx (how money and class structure control a nation)

Realism Style A reaction against romanticism; told it like it was Focus on lives of ordinary people; rejected heroic and adventurous Anti-materialism; rejected the new ‘class’ system View of nature as a powerful and indifferent force beyond man’s control Often aims to change a specific social problem

Naturalism Style Like Realism, but a darker view of the world The universe is unpredictable; fate is determined by chance; free will is an illusion Characters’ lives shaped by forces they can’t understand or control

Genres Novels Short stories

Dominant themes Survival Fate Violence Nature as an indifferent force

Major Writers The Civil War (1811-1896) Harriet Beecher Stowe The most famous woman writer of her day Uncle Tom’s cabin Most influential book of the 19th century 1st to sell 1 million copies One of the most effective documents of propaganda; helped fuel the Civil War Fredrick Douglass An escaped slave One of the most effective orators of his day Influential newspaper writer; abolitionist; diplomat Autobiography an instant and enduring classic

Major Writers The Frontier (1865-1915) Mark Twain Samuel Longhorn Clemens Great humorist and novelist Used vernacular, exaggeration, deadpan narrator “Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer, Life on the Mississippi, The Prince and the Pauper

Major Writers The Frontier (1865-1915) B. Stephen Crane A. Attacked patriotism, individualism, organized religion B. Confronted meaninglessness in the world C. Writing known for images and symbolism D. Red Badge of Courage, The Open Boat, An Episode of War

Stephen Crane III In the desert I saw a creature, naked, bestial, who, squatting upon the ground, Held his heart in his hands, And ate of it. I said, "Is it good, friend?" "It is bitter -- bitter," he answered; "But I like it Because it is bitter. And because it is my heart." IX I stood upon a high place, And saw, below, many devils Running, leaping, and carousing in sin. One looked up, grinning, And said, "Comrade! Brother!"

Major Writers The Frontier (1865-1915) C. Jack London A. Pushed Naturalism to its limits B. Call of the Wild (tame dog forced to revert to his primitive state) C. To Build a Fire (survival of the fittest)

The Local Colorists Regional writers tried to capture the essence of a particular area – its ‘local color’ Bret Harte The Old West in Outcasts of Poker Flatt Kate Chopin The Louisiana bayou in The Awakening Willa Cather Life on the Nebraska prairie Won Pulitzer Prize Chopin