realismandmarkTwain.docVIP

Major Issues I. The Age of Realism 1865 to l914: Social, historical and cultural context II. A working definition of realism III. Literary diversities of American realism IV. Henry James Mark Twain I. The Age of American Realism: 1865-1914 Social, historical and cultural context: Tremendous social change after the Civil War --The Age of Materialism: Industrialization, Urbanization, Pragmatism polarization (* “the gilded age”); -- Social Darwinism (changed view of religion)，vs Genteel Tradition/Romance -- Influences of Progressivism of the 1890s ( Upton Sinclair: The Jungle,1906); slide toward naturalism (*) “the Gi1ded Age” refers to the post-war get-rich-quick ear, a period of gigantic spree and extravagance. In this wholly materialistic age, a man is rated only by how much money he possesses; how he get it is totally ignored. Audacious swindles, shameless corruption, illusionary riches, and naked greed characterize the times, but all is gilded over with high-sounding phrases, pseudo-piety, and hypocritical gentility. It got this label from the Mark Twain novel of this title in 1873. The age gave rise to important novels of social and political criticism. II. a working definition of Realism ( a reaction against Romanticism) 1 interest in the details rather than the “story”; (verisimilitude) 2 faithful reflection of reality recreation of familiar everyday aspects of life; (rejection of idealization) 3 a straight-forward and matter-of-fact manner of narration; (objection to the omniscient point of view ) 4 character and event: common people, esp. social underlings their sufferings; 5 a critical tone, exposing social ills and criticizing social injustice Quotes about Literary realism 1. “Realism askew the traditional patterns of the novel. In part the rise of realism came as a protest against the supposed falseness and sentimentality of romantic fiction. Life, the felt, lacked symmetry and plot; fiction truthfully reflecting life sh