🌄World Literature II Unit 2 – Realism and Naturalism

What's This Unit About?

• Explores the literary movements of Realism and Naturalism that emerged in the late 19th century
• Focuses on the representation of reality in literature, depicting the world as it is without idealization or romanticism
• Examines the influence of scientific theories, such as Darwin's theory of evolution, on literary works
• Investigates the social, economic, and political conditions that shaped the lives of ordinary people
• Analyzes the ways in which authors portrayed the struggles and challenges faced by individuals in a rapidly changing world
• Compares and contrasts the key characteristics, themes, and techniques of Realism and Naturalism
• Assesses the impact and legacy of these literary movements on subsequent literary traditions and cultural discourse

Key Concepts and Ideas

• Realism aimed to represent the world as it is, focusing on ordinary people and everyday situations
• Naturalism extended the principles of Realism, emphasizing the role of heredity and environment in shaping human behavior
• Determinism, the belief that human actions and destinies are determined by external forces (social conditions, heredity), played a significant role in Naturalist works
• Social Darwinism, the application of Darwin's theory of natural selection to human societies, influenced the portrayal of characters struggling to survive in harsh environments
• Objectivity and detachment were important aspects of Realist and Naturalist writing, with authors striving to present an unbiased view of reality
• Realist and Naturalist works often critiqued social injustices, class inequalities, and the exploitation of the working class
• The concept of the "slice of life" involved depicting a specific moment or period in a character's life without a traditional plot structure

Major Authors and Works

• Gustave Flaubert (Madame Bovary) - French novelist known for his meticulous attention to detail and portrayal of provincial life
• Émile Zola (Germinal, Nana) - French novelist and a key figure in the Naturalist movement, known for his extensive research and depiction of social issues
• Leo Tolstoy (Anna Karenina, War and Peace) - Russian novelist who explored the psychological and moral complexities of human nature
• Fyodor Dostoevsky (Crime and Punishment, The Brothers Karamazov) - Russian novelist who delved into the psychological and spiritual struggles of his characters
• Henrik Ibsen (A Doll's House, Ghosts) - Norwegian playwright who addressed social issues and challenged traditional gender roles
• Theodore Dreiser (Sister Carrie, An American Tragedy) - American novelist who portrayed the harsh realities of urban life and the pursuit of the American Dream
• Kate Chopin (The Awakening) - American author who explored themes of female independence and sexuality

Historical and Social Context

• The late 19th century saw rapid industrialization, urbanization, and social change across Europe and the United States
• The rise of the middle class and the growth of cities led to new social problems, such as poverty, crime, and overcrowding
• The influence of scientific theories, particularly Darwin's theory of evolution, challenged traditional religious and moral beliefs
• The women's rights movement gained momentum, with authors addressing issues of gender inequality and the role of women in society
• The working class faced exploitation and poor working conditions, leading to the rise of labor movements and socialist ideologies
• Realist and Naturalist authors often drew from their own experiences and observations of the world around them
• The aftermath of the American Civil War and the Reconstruction era provided a backdrop for American Realist and Naturalist works

Literary Techniques and Styles

• Detailed descriptions and vivid imagery to create a sense of authenticity and immerse readers in the world of the characters
• Use of vernacular language and regional dialects to capture the speech patterns of different social classes and regions
• Third-person narration and an objective, detached tone to maintain a sense of impartiality and realism
• In medias res (starting the story in the middle of the action) to create a sense of immediacy and realism
• Stream of consciousness technique to convey the inner thoughts and emotions of characters
• Irony and satire to critique social norms and expose the discrepancies between appearance and reality
• Symbolism to convey deeper meanings and themes, often drawn from the natural world or everyday objects

Themes and Motifs

• The struggle for survival in a deterministic universe, with characters facing external forces beyond their control
• The impact of heredity and environment on human behavior and destiny
• Social inequality and the exploitation of the working class
• The pursuit of wealth, status, and the American Dream, often leading to disillusionment and tragedy
• The role of women in society and the constraints of traditional gender roles
• The conflict between individual desires and societal expectations
• The corruption and decay of modern urban life
• The loss of faith and the search for meaning in a world without traditional moral and religious certainties

Comparing Realism and Naturalism

• Both Realism and Naturalism sought to represent the world as it is, focusing on ordinary people and everyday situations
• Naturalism can be seen as an extension of Realism, with a greater emphasis on determinism and the influence of heredity and environment on human behavior
• Realist works often focused on the middle and upper classes, while Naturalist works tended to focus on the working class and the poor
• Naturalist authors often conducted extensive research and used scientific theories to inform their writing, while Realist authors relied more on observation and personal experience
• Naturalism tended to be more pessimistic and fatalistic, with characters struggling against insurmountable odds, while Realism sometimes allowed for the possibility of individual agency and change
• Naturalist works often depicted more explicit and graphic content, such as violence, sexuality, and moral degradation, compared to Realist works
• Both movements influenced subsequent literary traditions, such as Modernism and Social Realism, and continue to shape our understanding of the role of literature in representing and critiquing society

Impact and Legacy

• Realism and Naturalism challenged traditional literary conventions and paved the way for more experimental and avant-garde forms of writing
• These movements encouraged a greater focus on social and political issues in literature, leading to the development of engaged and socially conscious writing
• The emphasis on representing the lives of ordinary people and marginalized groups helped to democratize literature and expand the range of voices and experiences represented
• Realist and Naturalist works continue to be widely read and studied, offering insights into the social, cultural, and historical contexts in which they were produced
• The techniques and themes explored by Realist and Naturalist authors have been adapted and reinterpreted by subsequent generations of writers
• The legacy of Realism and Naturalism can be seen in the works of 20th-century authors such as John Steinbeck, Richard Wright, and Upton Sinclair
• Contemporary authors continue to draw on the principles of Realism and Naturalism, using literature as a means of engaging with social and political issues and representing the complexities of the human experience