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Literature of the Gilded Age 1865 - 1912

Literature of the Gilded Age 1865 - 1912. Realism & Naturalism Ambrose Bierce Stephen Crane. Realism. Reaction to Romanticism Tied to social reform Emphasis on everyday experience Everyday people – common man Character over plot. Realists. Mark Twain Henry James Willam Dean Howells

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Literature of the Gilded Age 1865 - 1912

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  1. Literature of the Gilded Age1865 - 1912 • Realism & Naturalism • Ambrose Bierce • Stephen Crane

  2. Realism • Reaction to Romanticism • Tied to social reform • Emphasis on everyday experience • Everyday people – common man • Character over plot

  3. Realists • Mark Twain • Henry James • Willam Dean Howells • The Rise of Silas Lapham • Critic • Leading proponent of realism

  4. William Dean Howells Literature should be "simple, natural, and honest" "Our novelists, therefore, concern themselves with the more smiling aspects of life, which are the more American, and seek the universal in the individual rather than the social interests."

  5. Naturalism • A branch of realism • Determinism • Values come from desires • Character’s behavior controlled by • Environment • Heredity • Inner desires • Outer forces

  6. Naturalism • Frank Norris • McTeague • Dentist’s social descent—driven by animal greed—ends in Death Valley • Ambrose Bierce • Cynicism about human nature • Stephen Crane • Jack London

  7. ”Episode of War” He bound his handkerchief over the wound, scolding away in the meantime. His tone allowed one to think that he was in the habit of being wounded every day. The lieutenant hung his head, feeling, in this presence, that he did not know how to be correctly wounded.

  8. ”Episode of War” "Good morning," he said, with a friendly smile. Then he caught sight of the lieutenant's arm, and his face at once changed. "Well, let's have a look at it." He seemed possessed suddenly of a great contempt for the lieutenant. This wound evidently placed the latter on a very low social plane.

  9. Ambrose Bierce • Born in Indiana 1841 • Fought in Civil War • Moved to California after war • Journalist • Divorced in 1905 • Died 1914?

  10. Ambrose Bierce Most important works • Civil War stories – Of Soldiers & Civilians • Devil’s Dictionary Style • Cynical • Compared to Twain & Poe

  11. Devil’s Dictionary • DISCUSSION, n. A method of confirming others in their errors. • EULOGY, n. Praise of a person who has either the advantages of wealth and power, or the consideration to be dead.

  12. Ambrose Bierce • ALONE, adj. • In bad company • BIGOT, n. • One who is obstinately and zealously attached to an opinion that you do not entertain.

  13. EGOTIST, n. • A person of low taste, more interested in himself than in me. • IMMIGRANT, n. • An unenlightened person who thinks one country better than another

  14. Stephen Crane • Born New Jersey 1871 • College drop out • Freelance journalist • Traveled in US West, Cuba, Turkey, Europe • Died in Germany 1900

  15. Stephen Crane • Realism • Naturalism • Social reform • Poetry • Often called an early Hemingway

  16. Crane - works • Maggie of the Streets (1893) • Red Badge of Courage (1895) • New standard in war literature • The Black Riders (1895) (poems) • ”The Open Boat” (1898) • War Is Kind (1899) (poems)

  17. Poetry A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation."

  18. ”Bride Comes to Yellow Sky” Look for… • Naturalism • History • What does it remind you of? • What motivates behavior? • Reactions to new situations?

  19. Jack London • Born in SF (1876) • worked many jobs (fisherman, sailor, laborer, gold hunter) • Prolific writer • Socialist • Individualist • Died in Oakland (1916)

  20. Jack London • Embodies contradictions of era • Associated w/ Alaska & Pacific • Call of the Wild • Sea Wolf

  21. Next Week • Regionalism • Horatio Alger • Rags-to-Riches • Read ”Uncle Remus” stories & E. A. Robinson poems

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