American Reality Realism Naturalism Regionalism Definition l A

American Reality Realism Naturalism Regionalism

Definition l. A literary style that portrays real life without filtering it through personal feelings, romanticism, or idealism. l Realism encompasses Naturalism and Regionalism

Characteristics of Realism Accurate and detailed portrayal of real life l Focuses on middle and lower social classes l Seeks to explain why ordinary people behave the way they do l Presents life objectively and honestly l

Characteristics cont. . . l Relies on the sciences of biology, psychology, and sociology, insight and observation l Uses details to re-create a specific time and place for the reader

Naturalism Characteristics l l l Life is a grim, losing battle Darwinism – “survival of the fittest” Fate determined by forces beyond individual control Regionalism Characteristics l l Detailed settings Manners and ways of the people Dialects of the region Humorous plots

Reality Check 3 ways to look at real life Realism: An objective view Of the world Naturalism: A harsh view of the world Regionalism: Captures the “local color” of a region

Ambrose Bierce 1842 -1914 l l Realist who wrote without sentiment Used point of view to create an effect Very cynical “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”

Stephen Crane 1871 -1900 l l l Naturalist who focused on war Provided one character’s view of reality The Red Badge of Courage “The Mystery of Heroism”

Mark Twain 1835 -1910 l l l America’s foremost regionalist writer and humorist Used a natural, slangy 1 st person narration The Adventures of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”

Willa Cather 1873 -1947 l l l Regionalist who wrote from her own experiences Many works set in the Nebraska “frontier” “A Wagner Matinee” My Antonia, O Pioneers

Emily Dickinson 1830 -1886 l l Never intended for work to be published Used a hymn-like, lyrical quatrains 1775 poems written - 7 published anonymously Known as “The Belle of Amherst”

Kate Chopin 1851 -1904 l l Regionalist, feminist author Controversial subject matter for her era (infidelity) Captured world of French Creole The Awakening “The Story of an Hour”

Charlotte Perkins Gilman 1860 -1935 l l l Suffered from mental illness Writing is semiautobiographical and examines the entrapment of women “The Yellow Wallpaper”