1. The Rise of Realism

2. Historical Background
Population 42 million: Immigration now from eastern Europe, Russia, Scandinavian countries

3. Key to settlement, shapes subject matter, and attitudes of writers
Transportation
Key to settlement, shapes subject matter, and attitudes of writers

4. Unresolved Challenges
Civil War
No more slaves
Growth of industry
Causes slums and labor unrest
Agricultural problems

5. Realism in literature Takes the place of Romanticism
Portrays ordinary life as real people live it
Attempts to show characters and events in an objective, almost factual way

6. Realism in Literature Portrays the brutal frontier life.
Portrays the problems with cities, slums, and labor unionscorruption
Realism finds meaning in the commonplace

7. Rise in Realism
Realistic writers can deal honestly with characters that Romantic writers either avoided or glossed over such as factory workers, bosses, politicians, and gunfighters.

8. Naturalism
More than realism—naturalism shows the inescapable work through natural forces
People have no control over events (writers tended to be pessimistic)
Naturalist writer—Jack London

9. Naturalism Destiny is decided by: Heredity Environment Physical drives
Economic circumstances

10. Regionalism Also called Local Color Movement
Emphasis on specific geographic setting; can be sentimental/unrealistic
Regional dialect (speech/manners)

11. Portrays vivid descriptions of landscapes
Regionalism
Portrays vivid descriptions of landscapes
Seeks to capture essence of life in various regions of growing nation

12. Literature During this Period
Short stories, novels, poetry, and muckraking journalism
Famous writers:
Stephen Crane
Henry James
Jack London
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Kate Chopin
W. E. B. Dubois
Willa Cather

13. Elements of Realism
Real-life situation (ethical struggles and social issues)
Ordinary characters and realistic events
Everyday speech patterns are used to reveal class and geographic distinctions (regionalism)

14. Psychological Realism
Romaticism
Trancendentalism
Dark Romanticism
Realism
Naturalism
Psychological Realism

15. Realism, Naturalism, and Realism
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.