Realism

Question 1

Historical Influences

Answer 1

1. The Gold Rush
2. The Civil War
3. The Transcontinental Railroad
4. The growth of cities
5. Industrialization
6. Scientific Advancements

Question 2

The Gold Rush

Answer 2

The disappointment that followed the Gold Rush made the way for Realism by showing the foolishness of unrealistic optimism.

Question 3

The Civil War

Answer 3

Canceled out the romantic idea that people are inherently good. It made optimistic view of life seem shallow and weak.

Question 4

The Transcontinental Railroad

Answer 4

increased regional interests by making Western travel easier for authors like Mark Twain

Question 5

The growth of cities

Answer 5

Instead of escaping to nature like the romantics, the realist writers wanted to accurately portray the horrible conditions of U.S. cities.

Question 6

Industrialization

Answer 6

The dangers of factory life and the slums it produced made romanticism seem irrelevant

Question 7

Scientific advancements

Answer 7

Inspired by advancements in biology, psychology, and sociology, realist writers began to think of themselves as scientists in prose who observed human nature.

Question 8

Define regionalism

Answer 8

Fiction and poetry that focuses on the characters, dialect, customs, topography, and other features particular to a specific region.

Question 9

Define vernacular

Answer 9

The language spoken by the people who live in a particular locality (as opposed to what would be considered the written language of educated people).

Question 10

Define dialect

Answer 10

A way of speaking that is characterized by a certain social group or by the inhabitants of a certain geographical area.

Question 11

Realism

Answer 11

A 19th century style of writing that attempts to depict life accurately without idealizing or romanticizing it.