1. American Realism 1865-1910

2. Realism • “Faithful representation of reality” • Largely a technique of writing • Often denotes middle-class life

3. Bye-Bye Romanticism • Formed as reaction against romantic literature and art • Interested in scientific methods • Clear documentation of history • Rational philosophy

4. Driving Forces • Rapid growth after the Civil War • Democracy • Literacy increasing • Industrializing and Urbanizing • Immigration • Middle-class’ raising affluence • Yearning to understand the culture of America

5. Literary Characteristics 1 - Detailed following of reality

6. Literary Characteristics 2 - Character over plot

7. Literary Characteristics 3 - Ethical decisions at root of the story

8. Literary Characteristics 4 - Complexity of human emotion and temperament shown

9. Literary Characteristics 5 - Social status or class distinguished

10. Literary Characteristics 6 - Realistic events in plot

11. Romanticism vs. Realism • Dreams are the touchstones of our character. Henry David Thoreau • If you can't read, it's going to be hard to realize dreams. Booker T. WAshington

12. Romanticism vs. Realism • What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us. Ralph Waldo Emerson • Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society. Mark Twain

13. Romanticism vs. Realism Art

14. Realism vs. Romanticism Art