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The Rise of Realism: Civil War and Postwar Writing

The Rise of Realism: Civil War and Postwar Writing. 1850-1900. Influential Writers. Whitman: One of the few writers who witnessed the war first hand (worked in hospital) Optimistic and idealistic response to war Emerson Patriotic and idealistic response Melville

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The Rise of Realism: Civil War and Postwar Writing

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  1. The Rise of Realism:Civil War and Postwar Writing 1850-1900

  2. Influential Writers • Whitman: • One of the few writers who witnessed the war first hand (worked in hospital) • Optimistic and idealistic response to war • Emerson • Patriotic and idealistic response • Melville • Disillusioned by war: changed his perspective on man and innocence • Examined humanity’s basic evil

  3. Literature during the war • Very little publication of literature • Many writers didn’t write from first-hand experience, but all were effected • Needed new types/forms of literature to express horror of war

  4. Realist writers • Specific truths about common experiences. • Represented environment and life experiences accurately. • Explained human behavior (why we do what we do) • Dependent on social sciences (psychology and sociology) and biology

  5. Contrast with Romanticism • Accurate portrayal in real settings (vs. exotic locales) • Objective without idealism (vs. escapism) • Focus on ordinary life (vs. extraordinary/spiritual) • Incorporation of psychology and irony (vs. emphasis on God in nature)

  6. Regionalism • One type of realist writing • Emphasized specific geographic location/setting • Accurately portrayed dialogue and behavior of people from that region (written the way people spoke)

  7. Naturalism • Type of realist writing • Characters w/limited choices, subject to natural law of universe • Focus on social questions and reform • Man vs. Nature, the fragility of man and life

  8. Psychological Fiction • Type of realist writing • Focused on character motivation (why we do what we do) • Explored social and psychological situations – impact of stress, grief, extreme situations, etc.

  9. Ironists • Contemplated man’s place in the universe • Human arrogance vs. vastness/indifference of the universe

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