American Realism1850-1900The Civil War and Post-War Period

Thomas Charles Farrer (1839-1891), Mount Tom, 1865

Realists sought to accurately portray real life, without filtering it through personal feelings, romanticism, or idealism.

Elements of Literature, 6th ed (419)

American Realism—Big Ideas

• The world is what it is, and that can be awful and frightening• Verisimilitude – present the world as it actually is• accepting reality as reality• rejection of the sensational or sentimental• focus on the ordinary man• loss of optimism

Response to• Start of the Civil War• Rapidly growing cities

and slums• Factories replacing

farms• Corruption in politics• Sentimentality of

Romanticism

Children in Mullen’s Alley, photograph, Jacob Riis, 1888

Characteristics• Presents reality in specific detail• Uses language of people and places• Dialect: a variety of language distinguished from

other forms of the same language by grammar, spelling, and vocabulary• Vernacular: plain, everyday language used by

ordinary people• Character is more important than plot• Ethical dilemmas often explored

• Typically focused on the middle class• Avoid the sensational or overly dramatic

Twain’s War Prayer

• Read the piece. Make notes about what is happening as you go. • When the mysterious man enters and speaks to

the congregation, find examples of irony in his interpretation of their prayer.• What is Twain satirizing here? • What is his message?