The document summarizes different American literary techniques that emerged in the late 19th century including Realism, Naturalism, and Regionalism. Realism focused on faithful representations of reality and depicting characters as ordinary people. Naturalism applied scientific principles to characterize individuals as helpless objects influenced by environment and heredity. Regionalist works aimed to capture specific locales through descriptions of dialects, traditions, and landscapes unique to a region.

1. Realism--Naturalism Regionalism Late Nineteenth Century American Literary Techniques

2. Real--Natural--Regional Reactions against Romanticism Better described as “writing techniques” than “philosophies” Naturalism developed from Realism Regional writers could also be Realists or Naturalists

3. Real--Natural--Regional Romantics / Transcendentalists tried to find the ideal; believed the individual was equal to a god Realists focus on “the faithful representation of reality”; believed the individual was simply a person Naturalists apply scientific principles to the study of humans without moralizing; believe the individual is a helpless object Regionalists try to capture a location: description, dialect, traditions and heritage

4. Realism Humans control their own destinies; characters act on their environment rather than simply reacting to it. Character is superior to circumstance

5. Realism-Definition About recreating life in literature: “the experienced commonplace.” Character more important than plot Interpret the actualities of any aspect of life without idealism Stresses the real over the fantastic Emphasis on morality Humans are in control of their own destinies

6. Realism-Characteristics Character more important than action or plot; complex ethical choices Characters appear in real complexity: temperament, motive, social class, past Class is important Events will be plausible Diction is natural, written as people talk, not poetically

7. Realism in Literature Settings thoroughly familiar to the writer Plots emphasizing the norm of daily experience Ordinary characters studied in depth Responsible morality; a world truly reported

8. Naturalism Characters do not have free will; external and internal forces, environment, or heredity control their behavior. Determinism: free will does exist, but the will is often enslaved on account of different reasons.

9. Naturalism-Definition An extension or continuation of Realism with the addition of pessimistic determinism Deals with raw and unpleasant experiences which reduce characters to “degrading” behavior in their struggle to survive Set in the commonplace and unheroic; life is usually the dull round of daily existence

10. Naturalism-Characteristics Objectivity and detachment in study of human beings; people are to be studied impartially, without moralizing about their natures/choices Characters mostly from lower middle or the lower classes; poor, uneducated, unsophisticated Discussion of fate; generally the controlling force is society and the surrounding environment

11. Naturalism in Literature Naturalist introduced new topics to broaden the scope of American fiction: exposure of social conditions and social evils, lives of the lower classes Characters conditioned and controlled by the environment, heredity, chance, or instinct Struggle for life and to maintain human dignity becomes heroic

12. Regionalism Also called “local color” literature Focuses on the characters, dialect, customs, landscape, and other features particular to a specific region. Typically a short story technique May at times seem overly sentimental or nostalgic

13. Regionalism Setting Emphasis on nature and the limits it sets. Settings are frequently remote and are always integral to the story. Setting may sometimes become a character in itself.

14. Regionalism Characters Concerned with the character of the region rather than the individual; characters may become “character types” sometimes stereotypical. Marked by adherence to the old ways, dialect, and personality traits central to the region.

15. Regionalism Narrator Typically an educated observer from another area; serves as a go-between for audience and rural folk of the story Plots Little action; stories include storytelling by the characters and revolve around community and its rituals

16. Regionalism Themes Antipathy toward change Nostalgia for a past “golden age” Celebration of community and acceptance in the face of adversity Conflict between urban ways and old-fashioned rural values