Literary Realism

1. Literary Realism 1860-1890 Literary Realism 1860-1890 Battle of Gettsyburg: Picket’s Charge by Peter F. Rothermal

2. Realists Writers… Tried to represent faithfully the environment, the manners of daily life, and real event of ordinary lives. Unlike the Romantics who… Wrote fiction (not true) and poetry about everyday experiences.

3. Realists’ Goal: • They sought to not only capture the details, but explain why ordinary people behave they way they do. • They relied heavily on the emerging sciences of human and behavior (biology, phycology, and sociology) as well as their own insights and observations. • Difference between Romantics and Realists: • They relied on Science to write their works, not just themselves.

4. Characteristics: • Describes reality in comprehensive detail • Characters are more important than the plot and action • Complex ethical choices are often the subject of the literature • Characters are related to nature, to each other, to their social class and to their own past. This relation makes up the complexity of their temperament and motive. • Class is important (usually describes the middle class) • Events are usually plausible • Diction is natural, not heightened or poetic

5. Did you know… The Civil War was the first Military Conflict captured by photographers.

6. For this photograph identify the Realist characteristics… What is the photographer trying to convey by emphasizing details of the soldiers’ expressions and bandages? How does the clutter in this scene contribute to a realistic impression of war? How does the emphasis on the figures in the foreground convey a realists’ view of the war?

7. Types of Realist Literature… • During the Romantic era, the prominent genres of literature were fiction and poetry. • During the Realist period, more literature began to emerge. • Non-fiction ---Essays • Speeches • Journals

8. Meet Richard Cory and Miniver Cheevy • According to the speaker of “Richard Cory,” why do people envy Cory? • How does Cheevy cope with his lot in life? • Why do you think Cory and Cheevy are so unhappy?

9. We Wear the Mask • What is the “mask” to which Dunbar refers to in the poem? • What social issues could the poem possibly be addressing? • What does the mask symbolize?

10. What do you or society mask? After reading the poem, I want you to brainstorm some of the things you hide. If you do not feel comfortable writing or exploring these things, choose to write about society. What are some things we hide?

11. Once you have finished your paragraphs… Grab a mask template and decorate your mask according to the things you wrote about in your paragraphs. You can draw or color your mask, but no matter what you do, it should symbolize what you wrote about.

12. Two branches of study under Realism Regionalism Naturalism

13. Regionalism • Regionalism focuses on what specifically characterizes a geographical area and its people. • Regional writers focus on capturing the speech, dress, common beliefs, manners, and social interactions of a given locale.

14. Local Color- fiction and poetry that focuses on the characters, dialect, customs, topography, and other features particular to a specific region Vernacular- the language commonly spoken by people in a particular place—to create vivid settings and characters.

15. Mark Twain America’s Regionalist Writer Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.

16. Jumping Frog reading Q’s • What does Smiley like to do? • Where does Twain use exaggeration to contribute to the story’s humor. • Which frog wins the jumping contest? Why? • What message do you think Twain is trying to convey through this tall tale? Explain. • What can you infer about Wheeler and Smiley from Twain’s use of vernacular.

17. Practice with Regionalism In groups of 3 analyze the region of Simpsonville/ Hillcrest. Compile all your thoughts on a piece of computer paper. Remember you are examining: speech, dress, common beliefs, manners, and social interactions

18. Questions to consider… • Are there common slang terms or words that are widely used? • Are there certain places in the area that understood to be the hang out? • Are there certain standards of behavior that are not written but understood by the student body? • Are there certain clothing styles that are only at Hillcrest/ high schools in this area?

19. Naturalism Extreme Realism—often depicted characters in a losing battle against an uncaring universe. Influenced by Charles Darwin and his theories of natural selection and survival of the fittest. Naturalists believe that human nature is determined by heredity and environment. Present human beings as subject to natural forces beyond their control.

20. The Story of an Hour 1.Pick out at least 3 phrases which you think are especially important to the story. (What you might mark on a printed text) Briefly describe why you chose each and what they mean in “plain English” or everyday language. 2. How does the author use description and foreshadowing to “set you up for the” for the ending? 3. What did Mrs. Mallard die of really? 4. Does Mrs. Mallard love her husband? Give textual references to prove your answer. 5. How does Mrs. Mallard’s new beginning become her ending? 6. Pick out at least two symbols from the story and explain their deeper meeting.

21. The Law of Life • What are the age ranges of those in the story? • What is the first clue of where the story takes place? • How will the old man’s burial be different than the young child’s? • How does the old man answer when his son asks, “Is it well?” • What does the tribe depend upon during the Summer to survive? During the Winter? • What do we learn about how wolves choose their prey?

22. Test Review *Know the authors for the following… (We Wear the Mask, Miniver Cheevy and Richard Cory, The Story of an Hour, The Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, The Law of Life) *Review your notes on Realism, Regionalism, and Naturalism. *Be familiar with events of the stories and poetry. Take this time to review with your classmates the events of the poems and stories.