The Faithful Representation of Reality Realism The Faithful Representation of Reality

Realism - Definition “The Faithful Representation of Reality” Verisimilitude –

Realism – Definition Makes readers believe the characters and events might have really happened. Focus on the ordinary and commonplace “Realistic Fiction” “Realism is nothing more and nothing less than the truthful treatment of material.” --William Dean Howells

Realism – Technique and Literary Period A technique used by many schools of writing. Literary Period in America after the Civil War. 1865-1900

Realism - Features Middle-Class Life Scientific Method Study of History Rational Philosophy

Realism - Inspiration Rebelling against the Romantic Period William Harmon and Hugh Holman state: "Where romanticists transcend the immediate to find the ideal, and naturalists plumb the actual or superficial to find the scientific laws that control its actions, realists center their attention to a remarkable degree on the immediate, the here and now, the specific action, and the verifiable consequence.”

Realism - Inspiration Industrialism and urbanization after the Civil War caused a larger middle class and a larger population. Amy Kaplan has called realism a "strategy for imagining and managing the threats of social change"

Realism – Characteristics Character is more important than action and plot; complex ethical choices are often the subject. Characters appear in their real complexity of temperament and motive. Class is important.

Realism - Characteristics  Realistic novels avoid the sensational, dramatic elements of naturalistic novels and romances. Diction is in the natural vernacular. Interior and psychological conflict

Realism - Authors Mark Twain Henry James Bret Harte Kate Chopin William Dean Howells Rebecca Harding Davis John W. DeForest Joseph Kirkland

Sources Campbell, Donna M. "Realism in American Literature, 1860- 1890." Literary Movements. Dept. of English, Washington State University.  Barrish, Phillip.  American Literary Realism: Critical Theory and Intellectual Prestige, 1880-1995. Cambridge: Oxford U P, 2001.  Bell, Michael Davitt. The Problem of American Realism. Chicago: U of Chicago P, 1993.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning How do I love thee. Let me count the ways Elizabeth Barrett Browning How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of being and ideal grace. I love thee to the level of every day's Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for right. I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.

Last night I heard the screaming The a silence that chilled my soul I prayed that I was dreaming When I saw the ambulance in the road And the policeman said “I’m here to keep the peace Will the crowd disperse I think we all could use some sleep” “BEHIND THE WALL” Tracy Chapman Last night I heard the screaming Loud voices behind the wall Another sleepless for me It won’t do no good to call The police Always come late If they come at all   And when they arrive They say they can’t interfere With domestic affairs Between a man and his wife And as they walk out the door The years well up in her eyes