Transcript Naturalism in American Literature

Naturalism in American
Literature
1865 –1900
Beginnings
 Naturalism evolved as an extreme form of Realism.
 It was heavily influenced by Darwin’s theory of
evolution, suggesting that heredity, environment,
and social conditions shaped human character.
Beginnings
 While Naturalism was a philosophy, Naturalism in
literature began in France.
 French critic and journalist Emile Zola is considered
the founder of Naturalism.
Characteristics
 The main characteristic of literary naturalism is pessimism,
emphasizes the inevitability and quality of death.
 The author tries to maintain an objective tone and sometimes
achieves detachment or change by introducing nameless
characters.
 In determinism, the third characteristic of naturalism in
literature, the notion that individual characters have a direct
influence on their lives is replaced by a focus on fate or nature
and is the opposite of the belief of free will.
 One common characteristic of literary naturalism is the
surprising twist at the end of the plot. There is a strong sense
in the naturalist stories and novels that nature is not affected
by human struggle.
Themes
 Survival, determinism, violence, and taboo are key themes.
 The conflict in naturalistic novels is often "man against
nature" or "man against himself" as characters struggle to
retain a "veneer of civilization" despite external pressures that
threaten to release the "brute within."
 Nature as an indifferent force acting on the lives of human
beings.
 The forces of heredity and environment as they affect--and
afflict--individual lives.
 An indifferent, deterministic universe. Naturalistic texts often
describe the futile attempts of human beings to exercise free
will, often ironically presented, in this universe that reveals
free will as an illusion.
Realism vs. Naturalism
 As compared to romanticism and realism, naturalism is a
more recent movement in the literary cycle.
 The focus of realism is on literary technique, whereas
naturalism connotes a philosophical pessimism.
 Realism portrays things the way they might appear to be,
while naturalism shows a deterministic view of a person's
life and actions.
 Realism shows that a person's decision is based upon his
response to the situation, whereas naturalism concludes
that a person's decision is predetermined by natural
forces that make him act in a certain way.
Famous American Naturalists
Stephen Crane
Jack London
Theodore Dreiser
Works Cited
 Alphonse, Marlene. “Naturalism in Literature.”
Buzzle.com. 26 Feb. 2010 <www.buzzle.com
/articles/naturalism-in-literature.html> 20 Jan.
2010.
 Campbell, Donna. “Naturalism in American
Literature.” Literary Movements. Dept. of English,
Washington State U. 27 July 2010 <www.wsu.edu/
~campelld/amlit/natural.htm 20 Jan. 2010
 Liukonnen, Petri. “Emile Zola.” Books and Writers.
2008 <www. Kirjatso.sci.fi/ezola.htm> 20 Jan. 2010