Realism in Literature

A response to Romanticism
 What is Realism?
• American Realism is a style in art, music, and
literature that depicts the lives and everyday
activities of ordinary people.

• The movement began in the late 19th century.

 How did it come about?
• The rise of Realism was actually a reaction
against Romanticism.
 Romanticism
• An artistic, literary, and intellectual movement
that originated in Europe in the late 1700s.

• An idealized view of reality

• Romanticism focused on individualism,

appreciation for the natural world, idealism,
physical and emotional passion, and the
supernatural.
 Romanticism con’t
• Since Romanticism was introduced during a
time of growth in the US, the literature
reflected on ideas such as optimism,
opportunity, and love.

• Characteristics: Plot-focused, imaginative,

positive, emotionally intense, and not very
realistic
Realism as a response to Romanticism
• As the 19th century went on, industrialization
and urbanization led to major social and
economic changes

• The rich and poor became divided

• There was a new need for literature that

reflected people’s lives– their REAL lives
 What does Realism Focus on?
• The immediate; the “here and now”

• Specific actions

• Consequences of actions

• Moral questions – concerned with the

principles of right and wrong behavior
 Characteristics of Realism
• Focuses on reality

• Characters are more important than action

and plot

• Characters display real human qualities such

as temper, selfishness, and insecurities

• Social class is important (low, middle, and

upper class)
 Characteristics of Realism con’t
• Events are believable. Realistic novels stay
away from dramatic stories and romances.

• Natural diction (word choice)

• Tone is NOT poetic; instead, may be comic,

satiric, or matter-of-fact
 Groups
• For your novel, research the plot and decide
why it is an example of realism. Prepare to
share with the class.

• Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

• The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
• Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
• The Pearl by John Steinbeck