Question

Not all literary critics espoused realism as readily as the influential literary critic William Dean Howells did. What criticism did the realist movement face from these critical detractors?

1) Critics noted that realist writing contained too much plot and ignored the development of character and setting.
2) Critics complained realism was too factual and too minutely detailed to be considered an artistic achievement.
3) Critics derided realism for making literature too accessible to lower-class readers, which would dilute literature's aesthetic.
4) Critics condemned realist writers for being too focused on commercial success instead of developing their artistic craft.

Answer 1

The realist movement faced criticisms such as ignoring character and setting development, being too factual and detailed, making literature accessible to lower-class readers, and prioritizing commercial success over artistic craft.

Step-by-step explanation:

The realist movement faced several criticisms from its detractors. Firstly, critics noted that realist writing contained too much plot and ignored the development of character and setting. Secondly, critics complained that realism was too factual and minutely detailed to be considered an artistic achievement. Thirdly, critics derided realism for making literature too accessible to lower-class readers, which they believed would dilute the aesthetic of literature. Lastly, critics condemned realist writers for being too focused on commercial success instead of developing their artistic craft.