History Recap

Romanticism• A reaction to the Enlightenment where

people believed that man is above nature and that reason explains all

• Also a reaction to Industrial Revolution: cities had become crowded/working in big factories, so people became worried about their independence

Romanticism Characteristics• Prize imagination/creativity• Love nature: see nature as a retreat– Nature is perfect: could inspire flawed humans to

be better

• Focus on emotion and intuition (no more reason!)– Follow your impulses! Do what you feel like!

• Celebrate the individual and emotions inside of the individual

Church by Rio de Luz

Kindred Spirits, Asher Brown

Durand, (1853)

Transcendentalism• A lot like Romanticism• Emphasized the individual even more: – The individual was the ultimate spiritual being

and something you could derive all truth and knowledge from.

• Nature is symbolic and it provides answers about virtue and wisdom: gateway to understanding

Realism• Reaction against Romanticism/

Transcendentalism– That stuff was too emotional/too symbolic!

• Realists strove to convey life as it truly is

Realism Characteristics– Wanted accurate representation of American lives– Emphasize true representation of character/ place/

events – Characters are complex– Social class is important: mostly about lower classes

(not just the rich!)– Avoid the sensational, dramatic elements of

romances– Diction is natural vernacular, everyday language

Jobs and people were painted in their natural form

Lower class laborers became the focal point

Connection to other texts:HUCK FINN!

• How do you recognize Realism at work in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?– With your partner, find 5 examples of how the

novel is an example of Realism

• However, do you notice anything …or anyone… weirdly not Realistic in the novel???

Realism in Action• Realism and the Civil War: connections• Listen to the following Civil War song. As you listen, write down

ways in which this song is Realist – USE KEY WORDS IN YOUR ANALYSIS.

– Wanted accurate representation of American lives– Emphasize true representation of character/ place/ events – Characters are complex– Social class is important: mostly about lower classes (not

just the rich!)– Avoid the sensational, dramatic elements of romances– Diction is natural vernacular, everyday language

Just Before the Battle Motherhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFoDphhHh6U

Just before the battle, mother,I am thinking most of you,While upon the field we're watchingWith the enemy in view.Comrades brave are 'round me lying,Filled with thoughts of home and GodFor well they know that on the morrow,Some will sleep beneath the sod.

Chorus:Farewell, mother, you may neverPress me to your heart again,But, oh, you'll not forget me, mother,If I'm numbered with the slain.

[Oh, I long to see you, mother,And the loving ones at home,But I'll never leave our banner,Till in honor I can come.Tell the traitors all around youThat their cruel words we know,In every battle kill our soldiersBy the help they give the foe.]

Hark! I hear the bugles sounding,'Tis the signal for the fight,Now, may God protect us, mother,As He ever does the right.Hear the "Battle-Cry of Freedom,"How it swells upon the air,Oh, yes, we'll rally 'round the standard,Or we'll perish nobly there.

Realism in Action Part Two• Realism and the Women’s Movement• The following is an account, written by Frances Dana

Gage, of a speech given by Sojourner Truth at the Women’s Rights Convention in Ohio.

• Truth:– Born a slave– Escaped– First black woman to win a case against a white man: her

former owner has illegally sold her son and she recovered him through her court case

– Abolitionist and women’s rights activist

“The leaders of the movement trembled upon seeing a tall, gaunt black woman in a gray dress and white turban, surmounted with an uncouth sunbonnet, march deliberately into the church, walk with the air of a queen up the aisle, and take her seat upon the pulpit steps. A buzz of disapprobation was heard all over the house, and there fell on the listening ear, "An abolition affair!" "Woman's rights and niggers!" "I told you so!" "Go it, darkey!"

I chanced on that occasion to wear my first laurels in public life as president of the meeting. At my request order was restored and the business of the Convention went on. Morning, afternoon, and evening exercises came and went. ... Again and again, timorous and trembling ones came to me and said, with earnestness, "Don't let her speak, Mrs. Gage, it will ruin us. Every newspaper in the land will have our cause mixed up with abolition and niggers and we shall be utterly denounced." My only answer was, "We shall see when the time comes."

The second day the work waxed warm. Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Universalist ministers came in to hear and discuss the resolutions presented. One claimed superior rights and privileges for man, on the grounds of "superior intellect"; another, because of the "manhood of Christ; if God had desired the equality of woman, He would have given some token of His will through the birth, life and death of the Saviour." Another gave us a theological view of the "sin of the first mother.”

There were very few women in those days who dared to "speak in meeting" and the august teachers of the people were seemingly getting the best of us, while the boys in the galleries, and the sneerers among the pews, were hugely enjoying the discomfiture, as they supposed of the "strong-minded" ... When, slowly from her seat in the corner rose Sojourner Truth, who till now had scarcely lifted her head. "Don't let her speak!" gasped half a dozen in my ear. She moved slowly and solemnly to the front, laid her old bonnet at her feet, and turned her great speaking eyes to me. There was a hissing sound of disapprobation above and below. I rose and announced "Sojourner Truth," and begged the audience to keep silence for a few moments.

The tumult subsided at once, and every eye was fixed on this almost Amazon form, which stood nearly six feet high, head erect, and eyes piercing the upper air like one in a dream. At her first word there was a profound hush. She spoke in deep tones, which, though not loud, reached every ear in the house, and away through the throng at the doors and windows…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vr_vKsk_h8

Amid roars of applause, she returned to her corner, leaving more than one of us with streaming eyes, and hearts beating with gratitude. She had taken us up in her strong arms and carried us safely over the slough of difficulty, turning the whole tide in our favor. I have never in my life seen anything like the magical influence that subdued the mobbish spirit of the day, and turned the sneers and jeers of an excited crowd into notes of respect and admiration. Hundreds rushed up to shake hands with her, and congratulate the glorious old mother, and bid her God-speed on her mission of "testifyin' agin concerning the wickedness of this 'ere people."

How does this speech and account display characteristics of Realism?

Look back in your notes at the characteristics to ANALYZE with specific

examples with your partner.