Realism

"Realism is the attempt to depict life as it actually exists, not as the author wants it to be in the present or the future, or imagines it was in the past. A realist carefully chooses details that illustrate this vision, unlike the naturalist who tries to include all possible details. The difference between realism and naturalism is compared often to that between a painting as opposed to a photograph, assuming that the photographer also does not choose which details to include in the frame of the picture. The difference between romanticism and realism was a philosophical difference over the purpose and function of literature, adherents of the former believing that it should idealize life by empathizing desirable features, those of the latter that it should be a faithful representative of facts as they appear to the senses. The change developed gradually in the 19th century; often, works such as Rebecca Harding Davis's "Life in the Iron-Mills" or local color fiction of Mark Twain, Kate Chopin, and others have elements of both. By 1900 authors such as Ambrose Bierce, Stephen Crane, William Dean Howells, and Henry James had experimented with new Points of View, setting, and symbolism to provide their own view of the rapidly changing times in which they lived and wrote. In the 20th century the writings of Sigmund Freud and increased understanding of psychology resulted in experimentation with the depiction of internal reality in metafiction, superfiction, and other alternatives to the "well-made" story" (Werlock).

So basically Realism is writing about what really happens in life. Realism is unlike Romanticism because Romanticism made everything look beautiful and colorful, while Realism shows how life really is and what is "real".

Realism includes characters as they really are with their real temperament and motive (Campbell). They are in relation to their social class, to nature, to each other, and to their own past. Social class and status is important in Realism. Realism mainly talks about middle and lower class people (Campbell).

Because Realism deals more with the lower and middle class, the American Dream, heroes, and an outlook on society can be seen very clearly. The American Dream was something that was mainly achieved or looked on by middle or lower class citizens. The American Dream has to do with building up your own fortune: going from rags to riches (Campbell).

Heroism is a part of Realism because a lot of the stories have to do with lower or middle class citizens that go through something that takes courage. Reading the protagonist of the story go through all the situations that he/she goes through can make him/her be seen as a hero. Society can also be seen in Realism because the protagonist may be looked down upon by a higher class which shows the reader what social standing can do to a person (Campbell).

Works Cited:

Campbell, Donna M. "Realism in American Literature, 1860-1890." Literary Movements. Dept. of English, Washington State University. 21 March 2011. http://www.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/realism.htm. 25 Jan 2011.

Werlock, Abby H. P. "realism." The Facts On File Companion to the American Short Story, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2009. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= Gamshrtsty0575&SingleRecord=True (accessed January 25, 2011).