1. Tarboro High School English 11
American Realism
Tarboro High School
English 11

2. What is Realism?
Rejection of the idealized, larger-than-life hero of Romantic literature.
Detailed depictions of ordinary characters and realistic events.

3. What is Realism? Emphasis on characters from cities and lower classes
Avoidance of the exotic, sensational, and overly dramatic

4. What is Realism?
Use of everyday speech patterns to reveal class distinctions.
Focus on the ethical struggles and social issues of real-life situations.

5. What is Naturalism?
Attempt to analyze human behavior objectively, as a scientist would.
Belief that human behavior is determined by heredity and environment.

6. What is Naturalism?
Sense that human beings cannot control their own destinies.
Sense of life as a losing battle against an uncaring universe.

7. What is Regionalism?
Literature that emphasizes a specific geographic setting.
Literature that makes use of the speech and manners of the people who live in that region.