Naturalism

1. Naturalism

2. Definition • A literary movement popular in the 1890s and early 1900s. It had a resurgence of popularity in the 1930s. This type of literature is most popular during times of hardship – financial, emotional or otherwise.

3. Popular Naturalistic Writers Stephen Crane Frank Norris Jack London John Steinbeck

4. SETTING • An urban setting

5. Characteristics • Ordinary characters are the main characters • Use of vernacular language ( common language) • Realistic presentation of life: life is portrayed as it really is

6. Concentrate on the negative side of life: - wars, poverty, disease, etc. • Anti- sentimental: only write about the present / never write about the good old days • Very factual writing: gives the reader the facts and allows him to draw his own conclusions

7. Fatalistic: Do not believe a man controls his own fate. No free will to determine his destiny • Man is crushed by either a social or natural force which he cannot change • Pessimistic: Society will not improve

8. World is amoral: no reward for goodness • Stories are often ironic: surprise endings

9. LANGUAGE IN NATURALISM • Typically vernacular- • Captures the speech of the common, ordinary citizen Ex: “Eh, child what is it dis time? Is yer fader beatin’ yer mudder or yer mudder beatin’ yer fader?” (last line of Chapter 2 of Maggie) • Style is very factual, detail oriented—much like a newspaper account

10. Favorite Naturalistic Themes • Man’s inhumanity to man • Nature’s indifference to mankind

11. How is the following quote an example of naturalism? • “ A man said to the universe: • ‘Sir, I exist!’ • ‘However,’ replied the universe, • ‘The fact has not created in me a sense of obligation’” • Stephen Crane