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Exploring Regionalism and Naturalism in American Literature

This overview delves into the key themes of Regionalism and Naturalism in American literature, showcasing how these movements depicted realistic life experiences and cultural nuances across different regions. Regionalism, exemplified by Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," captures the essence of local customs and characters, while Naturalism explores grim realities influenced by Darwin's theories and societal changes during the Industrial Revolution. The impact of cultural influences on both movements highlights the struggles and realities faced by society, including the role of women and the socio-economic dynamics of the time.

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Exploring Regionalism and Naturalism in American Literature

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  1. REGIONALISMAND NATURALISM

  2. REGIONALISM • Realistic • Colloquial • Showed people what lives were like outside of their region • Great for people who could not afford to move/explore • Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is great-a famous regionalist novel

  3. NATURALISM • Reslistic • Grim, helpless attitude • Based in Darwin's foundings of natural selection and the industrial revolution. • Famous examples include Thomas Dreiser's The Financier and Frank Norris' The Octopus

  4. CULTURAL INFLUENCESOF REGIONALISM • South depleted from Civil War • Difficulties of the Reconstruction • Many changes in country • Citizens embraced their regions culture • Westward expansion • Captains of industry controlled majority of wealth • Normal citizens had difficult lives

  5. CULTURAL INFLUENCESOF NATURALISM • Laissez faire--no regulation of businesses • Rich grew wealthier, poor suffered more • Immigrants used for cheap labor • Progressive movement emerged • Time of widespread change

  6. IDEASOF REGIONALISMAND NATURALISM - Regionalism: focused on characteristics of distinct regions of America; sought to capture and preserve "customs, character, and landscapes" - Naturalism: based on the idea that humans are helpless and driven by uncontrolled forces; Do humans act on choice or on instinct?

  7. REGIONALISM & LOCAL COLOR WRITING - Local color writing; a form of Regionalism - Prominent figures Mark Twain and Bret Harte - Focused more on imagination and settled communities; East Midwest, South  - Categorized speech, attire, characteristics, mindset, and general appearance of specific regions

  8. QUALITIESOF NATURALISM • Nature is indifferent. • Nature is harsh. • Exposes the grim reality of life • Many times have morbid or "less-than-happy" endings (p. 625) • ex: White Fang and The Call of the Wild

  9. QUALITIESOF NATURALISM • Reflected "rapid changes and sharp contrasts" during the close of the 19th century (p. 624) • Naturalist thinkers characterized humans as "helpless creatures moved by forces beyong their understanding or control" (p. 625) • ex: Jack London, Frank Norris, and Stephen Crane

  10. ROLEOF WOMEN • Some were regionalists and others were naturalists, but all women tended to be realists • Movement of suffrage reemerged • University education became widespread and more available

  11. ROLEOF WOMEN • Writing reflected male domination and limitations in society

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