Realism

Definition

Realism is a literary movement that emerged in the 19th century, focusing on representing everyday life and society with accuracy and authenticity. It emphasizes detailed character development, realistic settings, and plausible events, often highlighting the ordinary experiences of common people rather than the extraordinary. This approach connects deeply to the development of prose fiction, the evolution of the novel, and the exploration of societal issues through literature.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Realism gained momentum as a reaction against romanticism, focusing on depictions of real life and everyday experiences.
2. Key authors associated with realism include Gustave Flaubert, Leo Tolstoy, and Henry James, who explored complex characters facing societal challenges.
3. Realist works often avoid melodrama and sensationalism, instead presenting a clear-eyed view of life that includes both its struggles and triumphs.
4. The movement was influenced by advancements in science, philosophy, and social thought during the 19th century, encouraging writers to explore more empirical approaches to storytelling.
5. Realism paved the way for modern literature by prioritizing character over plot, allowing for deeper exploration of psychological motivations and social contexts.

Review Questions

• How does realism reflect the societal changes occurring during its emergence in the 19th century?
  • Realism reflects the societal changes of the 19th century by portraying the lives of ordinary people against the backdrop of industrialization, urbanization, and social reform. As society shifted from rural to urban settings and as class structures evolved, realist writers focused on authentic representations of daily life. This movement sought to capture the complexities of human experience within a rapidly changing world, highlighting themes like class struggle and moral dilemmas faced by individuals in their environments.
• Compare and contrast realism with romanticism in terms of their thematic focuses and narrative techniques.
  • Realism contrasts sharply with romanticism in thematic focus and narrative techniques. While romanticism celebrates emotion, imagination, and the idealized individual against nature or society, realism emphasizes objectivity and seeks to depict life as it truly is. Realist narratives tend to favor detailed descriptions of everyday life over dramatic events or idealized characters. This shift in focus allows realism to engage more deeply with social issues and the complexities of human behavior in a believable context.
• Evaluate how realism influenced later literary movements such as modernism and postmodernism.
  • Realism significantly influenced modernism and postmodernism by establishing a foundation for exploring complex human experiences in relatable contexts. Modernist writers expanded upon realist principles by experimenting with narrative structure and point-of-view to delve into consciousness and fragmented realities. Postmodern literature often critiques both realism and modernism by playing with metafictional elements and challenging notions of objective reality. This evolution reflects a continued engagement with the themes of authenticity and representation in literature across different historical periods.

Related terms

Naturalism:

Naturalism is an offshoot of realism that extends its focus on everyday life to include a more scientific and deterministic view of human behavior, suggesting that environment and heredity significantly shape individuals.

Social Realism:

Social realism is a subset of realism that specifically aims to address and critique social issues, often depicting the struggles of the working class and marginalized groups in society.

Romanticism:

Romanticism is a literary movement that preceded realism, characterized by its emphasis on emotion, individualism, and nature, often contrasting with realism's focus on ordinary life.