Question

Explain the effects widespread individual alienation had on the development of Realism as a literary movement. What factors brought about this sense of alienation? How did Realist authors seek to portray this sense of alienation in their works?

Answer 1

Realism was an artistic movement that began in the second half of the nineteenth century. Although it originated in France, its impact spread all over the Western World. Realism was a reaction to the Romanticism that dominated previous eras. While Romanticism focused on the beautiful and the ideal, and often discussed everything that was admirable in the world, Realism wanted to show how the world was in "reality," and believed it to be disingenuous to only focus on the beautiful parts of life. Individual alienation was a significant topic that they addressed. Individual alienation was a consequence of the Industrial Revolution. As the social fabric of society transformed, communities changed and the social became less important, and was replaced by the individual.

Answer 2

In the 19th century, Realism in France is often mistaken as literary movement because they felt that it laid too much truth specially on external reality.

Meanwhile, America needed a type of literature that would explain what was happening to their society. American writers then turned to what is termed as modernism. The influence of realism and naturalismin the 19th century and their truthful illustration of American life and people was shown in post World War I modernism.