1. Realist Era 1861 - 1914

2. The Civil War: 1861 - 1865 Major Shift in literature after this point Major Shift in literature after this point Civil War is more devastating than foreign wars Civil War is more devastating than foreign wars Brother/Brother, etc. Brother/Brother, etc. Nothing looks as happy anymore Nothing looks as happy anymore Slavery divides the country Slavery divides the country Economic hardships as well Economic hardships as well

3. Civil War Continued “War is at best barbarism…Its glory is all moonshine…War is hell” – Union General William Tecumseh Sherman “War is at best barbarism…Its glory is all moonshine…War is hell” – Union General William Tecumseh Sherman

4. Civil War Continued Civil War Continued Reality of War is Overwhelming and Cruel Reality of War is Overwhelming and Cruel Separation – slow communication Separation – slow communication Face to face fighting Face to face fighting Major wound = amputation or death Major wound = amputation or death Disillusionment Disillusionment Many people disillusioned with the American Dream and the goodness of human nature Many people disillusioned with the American Dream and the goodness of human nature

5. Civil War Continued War in Literature – many diaries, letters, etc. War in Literature – many diaries, letters, etc. Present literary forms couldn’t accurately describe the horror of the Civil War, so = THE REALISTIC NOVEL Present literary forms couldn’t accurately describe the horror of the Civil War, so = THE REALISTIC NOVEL Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane 1871 = 1 st Realistic Novel Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane 1871 = 1 st Realistic Novel

6. The End of Slavery Rights for African Americans were still squashed, and their hardships and the prejudice and hate crimes that followed are part of what disillusioned many people and made authors want to explore real life Rights for African Americans were still squashed, and their hardships and the prejudice and hate crimes that followed are part of what disillusioned many people and made authors want to explore real life

7. Westward Expansion Homestead Act of 1862 – 160 acres of land free of charge to anyone who would cultivate it for five years Homestead Act of 1862 – 160 acres of land free of charge to anyone who would cultivate it for five years People flocked west People flocked west More settlers when the transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869 More settlers when the transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869 HARD LIFE HARD LIFE Conflict between Whites and Native Americans Conflict between Whites and Native Americans

8. Westward Expansion Hardships of this time period decreased people’s patience for outlandish literature Hardships of this time period decreased people’s patience for outlandish literature

9. Immigration 14 million immigrants arrived in the US between 1860 – 1900 14 million immigrants arrived in the US between 1860 – 1900 A lot of racial and religious conflicts A lot of racial and religious conflicts Settled together in inner cities Settled together in inner cities

10. Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination

11. Realism Wrote about ordinary life – no larger than life heroes or events Wrote about ordinary life – no larger than life heroes or events Emphasis on characters from cities and lower classes Emphasis on characters from cities and lower classes Detailed depiction of ordinary characters and realistic events Detailed depiction of ordinary characters and realistic events Avoidance of the exotic, sensational, and overly dramatic Avoidance of the exotic, sensational, and overly dramatic

12. Realism Use of everyday speech patterns to reveal class distinctions Use of everyday speech patterns to reveal class distinctions Colloquialism Colloquialism Focus on the ethical struggles and social issues of real-life situations Focus on the ethical struggles and social issues of real-life situations “The only reason for the existence of a novel is that it does attempt to represent life” – Henry James “The only reason for the existence of a novel is that it does attempt to represent life” – Henry James

13. Realism Goal to not just describe real life, but to explain WHY ordinary people behave the way they do Goal to not just describe real life, but to explain WHY ordinary people behave the way they do Often relied on emerging sciences of human and animal behavior – biology, psychology, and sociology Often relied on emerging sciences of human and animal behavior – biology, psychology, and sociology REGIONALISM – specific geographic setting and the mannerisms and speech of those people REGIONALISM – specific geographic setting and the mannerisms and speech of those people

14. Naturalism: an Element of Realism Attempt to analyze human behavior as objectively as the scientific world Attempt to analyze human behavior as objectively as the scientific world Belief that human behavior is determined by heredity and environment Belief that human behavior is determined by heredity and environment Sense that human beings cannot control their own destinies Sense that human beings cannot control their own destinies Sense of life as a losing battle against an uncaring universe Sense of life as a losing battle against an uncaring universe

15. Psychological Realism Exploring the Human Mind Exploring the Human Mind Examining Characters in Crisis Examining Characters in Crisis Juxtapose human illusions with the indifference of the universe Juxtapose human illusions with the indifference of the universe