REALISM IN AMERICAN

LITERATURE Group 11:

Nguyễn Thái Hà Vi
Nguyễn Thị Xuân Nhi
1. Definition

• Is an approach that attempts to describe life without

idealization or romantic subjectivity.

• Realism has been chiefly concerned with the

commonplaces of everyday life among the middle and
lower classes, where character is a product of social
factors and environment is the integral reality.

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2. Historical Context
2. Historical Context
• Population of the United States is growing rapidly. (1865 -1915)

• Science, industry and transportation are expanding.

• Literature also was growing, but most new writers were not Romantics or
Transcendentalists. They are Realists.

• The “Frontier” did not exist as before; its legacy changed and impacted
Realists in its new form.

• The aftermath oaf the Civil War meant that Americans were less certain and
optimistic about the future.

• The idealism of the Romantics and philosophy of Transcendentalists seemed

out of date and irrelevant to many readers.

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3. Types of Literary Realism

 Magical realism - a unique subgenre with elements of

magic woven into the realistic setting

Ex: One Hundred Years of Solitude : you are drawn into the
world of the Buendisa family and the history of Macondo. And
while you’ll hear about house cleaning, you’ll also see a
levitating priest, making it a fabulous mix of mundane and
magical.

The House of the Spirits by Isabell Allende: Allende explores

the lives of the Trueba family, from their mundane lives to their
deep connection to the spirit world.

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3. Types of Literary Realism

 Social realism - explores the lives of workers and poor,

focusing on the working class; provides social commentary
on the devastating conditions of these people

Ex: Of Mice and Men: it narrates the experiences of George

Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced migrant ranch workers,
who move from place to place in California in search of new
job opportunities during the Great Depression in the United
States.

I Have Special Reservations (Elizabeth Catlett)

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3. Types of Literary Realism

 Naturalism - uses the scientific method and scientific

principles to explore humans and their relationships

 Ex: A Rose for Emily : The story takes place in Faulkner's

fictional city Jefferson, Mississippi, in the southern county of
Yoknapatawpha. It was Faulkner's first short story published
in a national magazine.

The Open Boat (By Stephen Crane): portrays men on a boat,

representing human endurance against indifferent nature, where they feel
themselves helpless.

The Grapes of Wrath (By John Steinbeck)

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3. Types of Literary Realism

 Psychological realism - dives into the psyche of the

characters; rather than focusing on the plot, it looks more at
the character’s thoughts and motivations

Ex: The Portrait of a Lady: is the story of a spirited young

American woman, Isabel Archer, who, "affronting her
destiny,"[1] finds it overwhelming. She inherits a large amount
of money and subsequently becomes the victim of
Machiavellian scheming by two American expatriates.

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4. Characteristics of American realism
* Realistic characters and setting/ Settings are usually those
familiar to the author.

* Comprehensive detail about everyday occurrences

* Plausible plot (a story that could happen in your town)

* Real dialects of the area

* Character development important / Character is more

important than plot.

* Importance in depicting social class

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5. Best authors & works

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Stephen Crane (November 1, 1871 – June 5, 1900)

• was an American poet, novelist, and short

story writer.

• Prolific throughout his short life, he wrote

notable works in the Realist tradition as well
as early examples of American Naturalism
and Impressionism.

• He is recognized by modern critics as one of

the most innovative writers of his generation.

• The Red Badge of Courage

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Willa Sibert Cather (December 7, 1873– April 24, 1947)

• was an American writer known for her novels

of life on the Great Plains

• In 1923 she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for

One of Ours, a novel set during World War I.

• – O Pioneers!
• – My Antonia

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Kate Chopin (February 8, 1850 – August 22, 1904)

• was an American author of short stories and

novels based in Louisiana.

• She is considered by scholars to have been a

forerunner of American 20th-century feminist
authors of Southern or Catholic background

• is one of the most frequently read and

recognized writers of Louisiana Creole
heritage.

• – Story of an Hour

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Thank
you!