Realism Period

What is Realism of American Literature? Well, to start the time period of Realism of American Literature is from the 1880’s till around 1914. The Civil War, and advancements in science, had been the start to the Realism Period. People started to expose the past and reality. Many slaves did not find freedom during the Civil War and had died during that time. Humanity is ugly! Psychology had been started during this time. During World War l, the trench warfare gave the soldiers shell shock and mental illness. People were starting to realize that mental illness was a serious condition abs became more known. Immigrants, lower class, and ex slaves started to become the focus of the stories of literature. Industries expanded and poor treatment of workers. Many of them relied on facts and reason. Many books had been written during the Realism Period a few examples are, “O’ Pioneer’s” by Will Cather, in 1913. Another example, “House of Mirth” written by Edith Wharton, in 1905. “Portrait of a Lady” by Henry James, in 1881. Poems were also quite big during the Realism Period, one is by Stephen Crane, “The Res Badge of Courage” in 1895. Another poem is “It’s All I Have to Bring Today” written by Emily Dickenson, in 1890. A short story written in 1869, by Bret Harte, is “The Outcast of Poker Flat.” World War l had been the major reason for the Realism Era of American Literature to end.