American Realism: The Civil War to 1914
Elements of Realism
Rejection of the idealized, larger-than-life hero of Romantic literature
Detailed depiction of ordinary characters and realistic events
Emphasis on characters from cities and lower classes
Avoidance of the exotic, sensational, and overly dramatic
Use of everyday speech patterns to reveal class distinctions
Focus on the ethical struggles and social issues of real-life situations
Types of Realism
Regionalism
o Literature that emphasizes a specific geographic setting and that makes use of the
speech and manners of the people who live in that region
o Often a sentimental depiction of that region
Naturalism
o Literature that attempts to analyze human behavior objectively, as a scientist
would
o Belief that human behavior is determined by heredity and environment
Sense that human beings cannot control their own destinies
Sense of life as a losing battle against an uncaring universe
Psychological
o Interest in complex social and psychological situations
o Focus on human motivation
“A Pair of Silk Stockings” by Kate Chopin
Directions: With your literature circle, discuss “A Pair of Silk Stockings.” Discuss each question
listed below and write your own responses in the lines provided.
1. What do Mrs. Sommers’s original plans for the money and her skill at mending tell you
about her?
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2. Do you think Mrs. Sommers’s feelings of excitement and anticipation would be different
if the story were set in modern times? Why or why not?
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3. Based on page 572, why do you think Mrs. Sommers acts without thinking?
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