Realism movement took place in the second half of the 19th century , and was very similar to naturalism
Realism is a direct contrast to Romanticism, as it does not beautify, or make things more appealing. Romanticism typically shows fantastical situations, whereas Realism uses facts to depict ordinary everyday experiences (DoCarmo).
Before the rise of Realism, Romanticists based literature and art off of personal feeling and the act of idealizing
Rational thinking based on science and the study of history helped start Realism, and it specifically represented the middle class in the late 1800's (Campbell).
The middle class was growing, people were migrating all over the U.S., the entire country was changing as a whole through industrialization, and realism was a way to capture the social changes (Campbell).
Realistic Techniques
1. The writer incorporates a setting, including the time and place, that relates to the author and is familiar (Reuben).
For example, Mark Twain writes The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn with a setting he grew up in which was along the Missouri River during the time when slavery was permitted (Twain 2).
2. The writer uses a plot that features ordinary, daily events (Reuben).
3. The writer uses protagonists and other characters to be normal; however, these characters can be deeply characterized and described physically, mentally, and emotionally (Reuben).
4. Realistic literature is characteristically written with “complete authorial objectivity,” meaning that the author holds all control to write a piece of literature without a biased opinion (Reuben). Instead, the author merely places the facts in plain view and allows the reader to make judgements about the plot on their own.
5. Lastly, the author typically has to present the facts and plot truthfully and without distortion (Reuven).
Realism vs Romanticism
Realism
Time period: 1860-1890
time period: 1830-1860
Realism was a reaction to extravagant, romantic ideals characteristic of the late 18th century and early 19th century. Realism even attacked Romantic and Transcendentalist ideas in their literary works.
Romanticism grew out of a reaction to widespread rationalism which dominated America and bounded the thought life of America.
Also, Realism grew out of the massive social changes taking place all over America. As America expanded from coast to coast over the manifest destiny policy, citizens became curious of the other ways of life throughout the United States (Campbell). This curiosity employed many American writers to write stories about the various walks of life through factual stories that depicted the widespread differences across the country.
Once romanticism was established, a new era of imagination arose. Plus, Americans responded to rationalism by focusing on feelings, inner divinity, human perfectibility, and unspoiled natural beauty.
First, Realism was created to instruct and entertain the American audiences of the mid-19th century, and furthermore, it emphasized that character comes from experience and relationships with others (Reuben).
Unlike Transcendentalist and Romantic writers, Realist writers use imagery in a tangible sense that stays inside the physical realm rather than abstract, spiritual ideas (Reuben).
Realistic writers employ the idea of realistic characterization which means that characters have the ability to choose their own destiny and make their own decisions, and therefore, "characters act on their environment rather than simply reacting to it," (Reuben).
Modern-day Realism
In politics, realism deals with the fact that there are "unpleasant truths in world politics that must be acknowledged if one is going to pursue a prudent foreign policy," (Drezner).
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