Realism

Definition

Realism is a literary movement that emerged in the mid-19th century, focusing on representing everyday life and ordinary people with an emphasis on accuracy and detail. This movement sought to depict life as it truly is, often highlighting social issues and the complexities of human behavior.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Realism became prominent after the Civil War, reflecting the changing social conditions in America as industrialization and urbanization transformed society.
2. Writers like Mark Twain and Henry James were pivotal figures in the realism movement, using their works to explore complex characters and societal norms.
3. Realist literature often features detailed settings and authentic dialogue, making characters relatable and situations believable.
4. The movement aimed to challenge romantic ideals by portraying the struggles and hardships of ordinary life without embellishment.
5. Realism laid the groundwork for modern literature by influencing later movements such as naturalism and modernism, which continued to explore human experience in new ways.

Review Questions

• How did realism differ from romanticism in its approach to storytelling and character development?
  • Realism differs from romanticism in that it focuses on depicting everyday life and ordinary people without idealization. While romanticism emphasizes emotion, individualism, and the beauty of nature, realism presents characters who face real-life challenges and complexities. This shift allows for deeper explorations of social issues and human behavior grounded in authenticity rather than idealistic representations.
• Discuss how the themes of realism are reflected in the works of key authors like Mark Twain and Henry James.
  • Mark Twain's works, such as 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,' exemplify realism through its portrayal of social issues like race and class while employing authentic dialects. Henry James explored psychological depth and social intricacies in novels like 'The Portrait of a Lady,' focusing on character development against realistic backdrops. Both authors used detailed settings and relatable characters to reveal the struggles of everyday life, embodying the realist commitment to truthfulness in representation.
• Evaluate the impact of realism on later literary movements such as naturalism and modernism.
  • Realism significantly influenced later literary movements like naturalism and modernism by establishing a foundation for exploring human experience with greater depth. Naturalism took realism further by examining how environmental factors shape human behavior, often depicting characters as products of their circumstances. Modernism built on these ideas by delving into subjective experiences and fragmented realities. As a result, realism paved the way for these movements to challenge traditional narrative forms and explore complex themes relevant to contemporary society.

Related terms

Naturalism:

A literary movement closely related to realism, naturalism takes a more scientific approach to literature, emphasizing the influence of environment and heredity on human behavior.

Regionalism:

A literary approach that emphasizes the characteristics of specific geographical areas, including their culture, dialect, and customs, often seen as an extension of realism.

Romanticism:

A literary movement that preceded realism, romanticism focused on emotion, individualism, and the beauty of nature, often idealizing its subjects rather than presenting them realistically.