Naturalism(early 19th century movement)

By

Cera Connors, Ryan Cameron, Tyler Given, Eli Greene, and Mick

Schroeder

What is Naturalism? Naturalism is a movement in literature that developed Naturalism is a movement in literature that developed

out of realism. out of realism.

Naturalism was a literary movement that originated in Naturalism was a literary movement that originated in France in the late 1800’s. France in the late 1800’s.

Like the realists, the naturalist sought to render Like the realists, the naturalist sought to render common people and ordinary life accurately. common people and ordinary life accurately. However, the naturalist’s emphasized how instinct However, the naturalist’s emphasized how instinct and environment affect human behavior.and environment affect human behavior.

Strongly influenced by Charles Darwin’s ideas, the Strongly influenced by Charles Darwin’s ideas, the naturalists believed that the fate of humans is naturalists believed that the fate of humans is determined by forces beyond individual control.determined by forces beyond individual control.

Naturalism almost entirely dispensed with the notion Naturalism almost entirely dispensed with the notion of free will, or at least a free will capable of enacting of free will, or at least a free will capable of enacting real change in life’s circumstances.real change in life’s circumstances.

Key Elements in Naturalism Naturalism was from 1900 to 1914Naturalism was from 1900 to 1914

It was during World War 1It was during World War 1

They analyzed human behavior as a scientist would and attempted to They analyzed human behavior as a scientist would and attempted to study their characters.study their characters.

They believed that human behavior is shaped by heredity and They believed that human behavior is shaped by heredity and environment. A person can never completely escape either influence.environment. A person can never completely escape either influence.

Because of this, humans can’t control their own destiniesBecause of this, humans can’t control their own destinies

Thus, life is often depicted as a losing battle against an uncaring universe.Thus, life is often depicted as a losing battle against an uncaring universe.

Naturalistic Authors Stephen Crane- Stephen Crane- Maggie: A Girl of the Maggie: A Girl of the

Streets(1893), The Red Badge of Streets(1893), The Red Badge of Courage(1895)Courage(1895)

Edith Wharton- Edith Wharton- The Age of InnocenceThe Age of Innocence (1920);(1920); Fast and Loose (1878), Fast and Loose (1878), Verses(1878)Verses(1878)

Frank Norris- Frank Norris- BlixBlix (1899), (1899), McTeagueMcTeague (1899) (1899)

Emile Zola- Emile Zola- Les Rougon-Macquart (1871-Les Rougon-Macquart (1871-1893), The Fortune of the Rougons1893), The Fortune of the Rougons (1871). (1871). A French author who inspired the start of A French author who inspired the start of naturalism in the late 1870’s in France.naturalism in the late 1870’s in France.

Stephen Crane

Emile Zola

Man vs. Nature Characters can be studied through their relationships to their Characters can be studied through their relationships to their

surroundings.surroundings.

Writers studied human beings governed by their instincts and Writers studied human beings governed by their instincts and passions as well as the ways in which the characters' lives passions as well as the ways in which the characters' lives were governed by forces of were governed by forces of heredity and environmentheredity and environment..

Naturalism dramatizes the loss of individuality.    Naturalism dramatizes the loss of individuality.   

George Becker- naturalism's philosophical framework can be George Becker- naturalism's philosophical framework can be simply described as "pessimistic materialistic determinism."simply described as "pessimistic materialistic determinism."

““When it occurs to a man that nature does not regard him as When it occurs to a man that nature does not regard him as important, and that she feels she would not maim the universe important, and that she feels she would not maim the universe by disposing of him, he at first wishes to throw bricks at the by disposing of him, he at first wishes to throw bricks at the temple, and he hates deeply the fact that there are no bricks temple, and he hates deeply the fact that there are no bricks and no temples. “and no temples. “- Stephen Crane, "The Open Boat" - Stephen Crane, "The Open Boat" 

Illustration from The Open Boat by Stephen Crane.

Stylistic Devices used by Writers Naturalists’ ideas reflected intellectual trends emerging in Europe in biology, Naturalists’ ideas reflected intellectual trends emerging in Europe in biology,

economics, and psychology.economics, and psychology. - Emile Zola wrote novels of human behavior under the influence of heredity and - Emile Zola wrote novels of human behavior under the influence of heredity and

environment. He used ideas that were mostly scientific.environment. He used ideas that were mostly scientific. Origin of Species (1859) Origin of Species (1859) Darwin proposed his theory that species evolve through Darwin proposed his theory that species evolve through

natural selection, where those with the most favorable traits adapt and survive (survival natural selection, where those with the most favorable traits adapt and survive (survival of the fittest).of the fittest).

Writers believed that the fate of humans was determined by the forces beyond Writers believed that the fate of humans was determined by the forces beyond individual control.individual control.

*Characters are crushed by the force of a universe they can neither understand or *Characters are crushed by the force of a universe they can neither understand or control.control.

- Ex: Man vs. Nature (man fights to survive a snow storm, but in the end nature is - Ex: Man vs. Nature (man fights to survive a snow storm, but in the end nature is dominate and the man can freeze to death.)dominate and the man can freeze to death.)

Writers also focus on the filth of society and the hard labor of the lower classes as the Writers also focus on the filth of society and the hard labor of the lower classes as the focal point of their writing.focal point of their writing.

Some devices used were metaphors, similes, and personification but were not a driving Some devices used were metaphors, similes, and personification but were not a driving force through the movement.force through the movement.

Themes Naturalist writers apply scientific Naturalist writers apply scientific

principles and methods to the writing of principles and methods to the writing of fiction.fiction.

Authors introduce readers to a character Authors introduce readers to a character and then set the events of the novel in and then set the events of the novel in motion to see how the characters’ motion to see how the characters’ inherited traits and environmental inherited traits and environmental influences will determine their influences will determine their outcomes.outcomes.

Unexpected opportunities is also Unexpected opportunities is also introduced to a character for a chance introduced to a character for a chance

for him/her to take it or leave itfor him/her to take it or leave it. . Environmental setting

Characteristics of heroes/main characters

Unaffected, honest, and simple people in Unaffected, honest, and simple people in natural setting/jobs.natural setting/jobs.

Writers focused on Charles Darwin's Writers focused on Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.theory of evolution.

They believed that one's heredity and They believed that one's heredity and social environment determine one's social environment determine one's character.character.

They worried about the problems in the They worried about the problems in the world.world.

Antigna, Alexandre (1817-1878) Realism/Naturalism

Comparison to Naturalism Naturalism -They believed that one's They believed that one's

heredity and social heredity and social environment determine environment determine one's character.one's character.

-Characters were in full -Characters were in full detail.detail.

-Focused on the problems -Focused on the problems in the world.in the world.

-They were also described -They were also described for the different social for the different social classes they were in classes they were in

Modernism-Stayed away from the -Stayed away from the

conventional writings. conventional writings. 

-Focused on the inner -Focused on the inner problems of man.problems of man.

-Characters were not -Characters were not explained in full detail.explained in full detail.

-The characters were -The characters were alienated.alienated.

The End!Thank You