xt.Realism in literature is an attempt to describe human behavior and surroundings or to represent figures and objects exactly as they act or appear in life. Attempts at realism have been made periodically throughout history in all the arts; the term is, however, generally restricted to a movement that began in the mid-19th century, in reaction to the highly subjective approach of romanticism. The difference between realism and naturalism is harder to define, however, and the two terms are often used interchangeably. The distinction lies in the fact that realism is concerned directly with what is absorbed by the senses; naturalism, a term more properly applied to literature, attempts to apply scientific theories to the same.American Realist literature is defined particularly as the fiction produced in the United States from about 1840 until the 1890s, when realism was superseded by naturalism. Mark Twain and William Dean Howells were the pioneers of realism in the United States. One of the greatest realists of all, the Anglo-American novelist Henry James, drew much inspiration from his mentors, Eliot and Howells. James's concern with character motivation and behavior led to the development of a subgenre, the psychological novel.The mid-nineteenth century was a time of incredible changes. When I say changes, I refer to social, as well as technological advancements. These times were making enormous changes in everyone's lives. Anything that is new or totally different from what one is accustomed to dealing with, causes a certain amount of hesitation at first. The days of romantic, flowery discourse and literature made way for the more "practical", solid, real interpretation of life.In general, the work of these writers illustrates the main tenet of realism, that writers must not select facts in accord with preconceived aesthetic or ethical ideals but must set down their observations impartially and objectively. Concerned with the faithful...
