The Realist Era

American Realism began as a reaction to Romanticism. During this time authors were becoming blunter. In their writings they weren’t sugar coating, they were getting right to the point. They were exposing the truths of society. This period started about 1840/60 and ended in about 1914. The Realism era was the era that started to focus on the low middle class and immigrants. Typically, novels, short stories, and poems from this era are more aggressive and focuses on death. For example,” O’ Pioneers,” by Willa Cather, “Portrait of a Lady,” by Henry James, and “On the Origin of Species,” by Charles Darwin. Poetry during this time was really on the aggressive and dark side, mainly about death. For example, “Because I could not stop for Death” and “I heard a fly buzz- when I died,” both by Emily Dickinson. The short stories are similar to gothic fiction, they typically give graphic details. For example, “The Furnished Room,” by O. Henry. In conclusion, American Realism consist of many authors who were very blunt and focused on the low middle class and immigrants. While focusing on the low middle class and immigrants they also focused on a more aggressive way of viewing things which consists of death