Realism
1850-1900
"The faithful representation of reality"
Realism was an idea in literature that humans were simply restricted by nature itself. It became a new way to portray life.
Characteristics:
This time period of literature in America was sharp on the mental and emotional state, positivity, details, and actuality.
Famous realism authors
Henry James
Wrote The Turn of the Screw, The Portrait of a Lady
Believed in realistic texts that people related to
Born in America but spent his life in England
William Dean Howells
Nicknamed "The Dean of American Letters"
Editor of Atlantic Monthly
Wrote Christmas Every Day and The Rise of Silas Lapham
Born in Matinsville,Ohio
Mark Twain
Real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens
Wrote The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Grew up in Hannibal,Missourri
Realism Background
Realism
Realism was the idea that all writing should be realistic in nature and not fantasized. The people that read these strories should be able to relate to them in some way. These stories would compose of everyday activities of the people.