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Realism

Realism. Contemporary Realism Historical Fiction. There are three rules for writing a good novel. Unfortunately, nobody knows what they are. - W. Somerset Maugham

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Realism

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  1. Realism Contemporary Realism Historical Fiction

  2. There are three rules for writing a good novel. Unfortunately, nobody knows what they are. - W. Somerset Maugham • Every memorable work of fiction presents a conflict or problem that affects human beings, and how this obstacle is overcome is the story. • In realistic fiction, writers draw on their own backgrounds and observations of life around them.

  3. Contemporary Realism • Most popular genre • About “my life” “my world” • Readers can know characters quickly and it’s often easy to identify with them. • The ground rules are already established. No need to create a new world with new rules.

  4. “My Life” “My World” Contemporary realism • reflects and confirms my understanding of the world. (familiar) • Readers can see themselves in characters • But many kinds of people are seldom represented. • For example: There are very few books with deaf characters. • Most contemporary realism for children still shows the lives of white, middle class characters in the countries where they published. • expands my understanding of my world (difference) • Readers gain some understanding of people who are not like them or in conditions which are different.

  5. Characters • Protagonists are usually slightly older than the implied reader. • Exceptions • No child characters • Stories about animals

  6. Realism and Society • The view of life in a realistic story reflects the societal values and attitudes of the time in which the story is set. • Until the 1960s the world in children's books typically was presented without negative or earthly aspects. • Some general restrictions • No budding love affairs • No liquor • No supernatural phenomena • No undermining of authority • No parents with serious human weaknesses • No realistic working-class speech (not even the mildest cursing) • The Vietnam War helped to change this

  7. Harriet the Spy 1964 by Louise Fitzhugh A Non-traditional girl • Dressed in a sweatshirt • Spied on neighbors • Neglected by her wealthy parents • Underwent psychotherapy • Visited her nanny’s impoverished, mentally challenged mother • Said “hell” to her mother.

  8. The Chocolate War1974by Robert Cormier • Bleak world view • “overly” realistic • Presents a corrupt authority • Bullies get away with it. • The good guy doesn’t win.

  9. Bibliotherapy Any kind of emotional healing that comes from reading books • The broad, therapeutic feelings of recreations and gratification experienced by individual readers • The sense of connectedness readers in a group feel when they share the same reading experiences • The particular information and insight books can provide in dealing with personal problem • This has led to much didactic literature especially for young adults. “The problem novel”

  10. CategoriesThere are many ways to categorize this genre (Judith Hillman) • Survival stories • Family and school stories (includes problem novels) • Animal realism • Sports stories • Mystery and adventure • Humor • Series books

  11. Categories Another classification system (Charlotte Huck) • Becoming one’s own person a. living in a family, b. living with others, c. growing towards maturity • Coping with problems of the human condition a. Physical disabilities, b. developmental and learning disabilities, c. mental illness, d. aging and death • Living in a diverse world a. African American experiences, b. books from other cultures, c. understanding various world cultures. • Popular a. animal stories, b. sports stories, c. school stories, d. mysteries.

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