Final answer:
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Western literature saw the emergence of Realism, focusing on everyday life and social issues of the contemporary world. This period of transformation in the United States gave rise to a more mature and diverse American literature.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Western literature experienced the birth of Realism as a prominent literary movement. This period was marked by significant social and technological changes that influenced the themes and styles of literary works. Authors like William Dean Howells, Mark Twain, and Henry James were notable figures in the Realistic movement, which focused on depicting contemporary society and social issues with characters and scenarios that readers could recognize as being from ordinary life, portrayed in a realistic light rather than idealized as in previous Romantic works. Realism was characterized by its attention to detail and its use of everyday events to reflect on the human condition.
The emergence of Realism corresponded with the rise of a middle class, urbanization, industrialization, and the rapid growth of cities due to immigration and internal migration. This led to a flourishing literary culture that began to focus more on current issues and the concerns of everyday people. Literary historians look back on this era as the time when American literature matured, with the beginnings of the Southern Renaissance and the works of African-American authors gaining prominence and shaping the literary landscape.